This is a big south-facing granite boulder up by the western end of the park, and, you guessed it, it kind of looks like a train car. Also, it is close enough to the tracks to justify its name, but luckily it is within Eldorado Canyon State Park. Logically, this area should be organized with the other granite areas nearby, but they all seem to suffer from various access issues. The areas near Gross Reservoir are closed for security reasons, and the stuff near Walker Ranch is Boulder Open Space which doesn't allow off trail hiking....
This great boulder has about 20 fun problems with pretty flat landings in a beautiful, remote setting. The only drawback is the odyssey required to reach this solitary boulder. If there is not enough here for your day, you could always check out the bouldering @ Golden Gate State Park or even stop off on Flagstaff (if you drive that way).
Getting There
The boulder is a short hike from the Crescent Meadow trail head on Gross Damn Road. There are a few ways to get here including: driving over Flagstaff, hiking up from the lower canyon, or even by bike (it's a short ride off of the Walker Ranch loop).
I'll just describe the easiest and fastest way:
South on CO 93 from Boulder (because that's where all boulderers live)
Zero your odometer @ the intersection of Coal Creek Canyon (CO 72) and CO Hwy 93. Drive west up the canyon for 7.5 miles.
Turn right on Crescent Park Drive (liquor store on the left). Follow this for 1 mile around an S turn.
At the T, turn right onto Gross Damn Road (dirt).
After you cross the RR Tracks, look for the parking lot on the right. This is technically in the park, but you don't require a park pass....
Approach from trail head (about 10 minutes):
This differs from directions on other sites....
Walk North toward the Walker Ranch loop and take a right. As you head East, an old road forks off to the right. Follow this across the meadow as it contours around the hill until you are heading South toward the tracks. This road parallels the road you can see on the hillside, but stays 100 yards downhill from it. There is a cairn on the right where you leave this road. At this point, you are directly East of the boulder and can see it.... I have tried all possible approaches, and although this SEEMS farther, it was by far the fastest and easiest way. And even better, it avoids fragile environments and private property. Thanks to Mike McHugh for showing the way....
This is the recommended approach route. Please use this old dirt road to minimize impacts to the meadow.... Submitted By: Mark Roth on Jun 26, 2011
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for The Freight Train Boulder:
This is one of the best problems here. Move up into an undercling at the start. You can knee bar with your left leg as you reach for the "belly button." Make big moves to slopers with a high step or heel hook in the "belly button." Top out with great holds, that may or may not be attached.......[more]Browse More Classics in CO
I seriously doubt there will be much increase in traffic here because of Mt. Project. It's not like this is a secret boulder. If people follow the directions I posted, impact to the area will be far less than what is occurring now (people aimlessly trampling across that meadow).
I will not stop till all Droeger lands are preserved for future generations, not the selfish few. Think about the children, Jay. C'mon coach, work with me. (I sit at a computer all day, so keep it coming.)
Untrammeled? Obviously you haven't seen the base area of the boulder. Trammeled. Tick marks and chalk all over the boulder and chalk spilled all over the ground. Serene? Yeah, it's pretty quiet until the trains pass by 80 yards away with regularity.
Chew-Chew is the stand start to ChubbyBunny. What's described here as Chew-Chew was called Highball, another train reference, aka Mini-cliff Standard. The FRB.com description is all whack as well, note that is says start right of crystal dike but then describes the holds on Chubby Bunny which is left of the dike....
"Untrammeled? Obviously you haven't seen the base area of the boulder. Trammeled. Tick marks and chalk all over the boulder and chalk spilled all over the ground."
UPDATE: went to the Freight Train this am before it got too hot, and it was perfect. Untrampled wildflowers at the base, no tick marks or spilt chalk. There weren't even any taxers there, spraying beta or collecting my hard earned $ to fund access roads, state parks, libraries, schools, or any other sort of public welfare.
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