The Crag Ranch  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  11,734. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Tod Anderson on Aug 5, 2002 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon 75° | 36° 77° | 37° 75° | 37° 75° | 37° 73° | 39°

Raptor Closures MORE INFO >>> FYI: Parts of Devil's Head climbing area are closed March 1- July 31 every year for Peregrine falcon protection. The official closure order and associated map can be found here: www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5280647.pdf. For questions or more information, please contact the South Platte Ranger District office at 303.275.5610. This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

BETA PHOTO: As seen from Digital Tower

Description 

Located in the newer western valley at Devil's Head The Crag Ranch offers almost 30 new routes ranging from 5.9 to 5.12+. Both sport and trad climbs are found here, with about 2/3 of the routes being sport lines. There are some multi pitch sport lines and some very long routes, up to 30 bolts long. Routes face north south and west, so it's easy to stay cool on hot days and find sun on colder days. Most of the routes contain the high quality fine grained Devil's Head granite. Some of the north facing routes still have a bit of lichen.

Getting There 

To get to The Crag Ranch hike to the firetower, but instead of going up the stairs go south through the grassy valley below the firetower. Enter the forest on the right side of the valley and look for a cairned trail leading down through the trees. The trail forks in about 50 yards leading right to Digital Tower and left to The Crag Ranch. To get to The Crag Ranch trend left as you descend for about 250 yards. Watch for one spot where the trail goes back uphill slightly to the left around a large boulder. The trail ends at the base of a large (250') west facing formation, The Crag Ranch. Also look for the alcove with a north facing wall with 15 sport and trad routes.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Crag Ranch

Meanwhile 5.12c  CO : South Platte : ... : The Crag Ranch

This route is located at the edge of the west and south faces of The Crag Ranch where the south face reaches its lowest point. This route is LONG so TIE A KNOT IN THE END OF YOUR ROPE BEFORE YOU START. It is possible to do the whole thing in one continuous pitch from the ground, but you'll need a bucketload of draws. The part up to the first set of anchors, call it the first pitch if you like, is ten bolts and about 5.11c following granite tufas and laybacks. The next section is the business,...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of The Crag Ranch Slideshow

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Left side of the crag. Unfortunately the rock qual...