Tabeguache Boulders  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  39.0401, -108.6025 Map Page Views:  3,052. Good page? (1 like)    Administrators:  Jesse Zacher, Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Cragophilia on Apr 23, 2011 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Climbing at the Tabeguache boulder area.

Description 

The Tabeguache Trail system is ripe with bouldering opportunities. Although not technically in the Colorado National Monument, this area is immediately adjacent to the park's east boundary and shares parking with the popular Dynamite Shacks area, thus its inclusion here within the Colorado National Monument page. If someone objects to this, I would happily reconsider.

This basin is also very close to the Holy Cross (or Arena) area but a little further north. You could probably access this area from the trailhead described there, but we have always approached these boulders from the Tabeguache Trail.

We have been curious about this basin for years. Every time we drove along Little Park Rd., we’d look down into this area and wonder. When we finally ventured in to explore, we were astounded by the sheer number of boulders of all sizes but were ultimately disappointed in the quality of most of them. Eventually, however, we found some pretty good boulders, and there is still a massive amount of area that we haven’t explored. I’m sure there are a few hidden classics yet to be discovered.

This is an area for the trailblazing type of climber. Expect a time-consuming approach and some disappointments in your search, but for me, half the fun is in the adventure and in the excitement of discovering and developing your own routes.

Getting There 

From downtown Grand Junction, take Grand Avenue west until it veers slightly south, turns into Broadway and crosses the Colorado River. One-quarter of a mile after crossing the river turn left onto Monument Road. Follow Monument road for 1.7 miles until you come to the Tabeguache/Lunch Loop trailhead on the left side of the road. As previously mentioned, this is the same parking area that you would use for the Dynamite Shacks.

To get to the boulders: turn your back on the high quality and easily accessible boulders at Dynamite Shacks and follow the Tabeguache Trail south for 0.5 mile, staying left at several trail intersections, until you come to a prominent Y. The right fork is clearly the more frequently used trail. Turn left and climb Bentonite Hill, your first obstacle. All of these trails are very popular with mountain bikes, so beware on blind corners and at the bottom of hills. Bentonite Hill would be a particularly bad spot for a close encounter with a bike. At the top of Bentonite Hill, go right at another fork. After 0.25 mile, stay left at yet another intersection (or maybe two) and follow Ali Alley Trail to the rim of a large basin to the south. Take a spur trail to the edge: you are now looking over the area. Descend down to the boulders through a notch in the cliffband (see beta photo). The approach to this point is just over a mile and should take about 20 minutes.

The Classics

Featured Route For Tabeguache Boulders

Burial Ground V1  CO : Grand Junction area : ... : Indian Garden Boulders

Hidden on the bushy north face of Indian Garden East is this great little problem. We missed this thing the first time we came here. Start on two low, small holds with legs out wide to avoid a crumbly ledge and move up and to the right. A variation that goes straight up is a little harder....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of Tabeguache Boulders Slideshow

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BETA PHOTO: The notch that allows access from Ali Alley Trail ...