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Elevation: 7,176 ft
GPS: 39.23226, -107.22854
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 103,005 total · 417/month
Shared By: Orphaned User on Dec 4, 2003
Admins: Alvaro Arnal, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

The Narrows is a loose, scruffy area close to Carbondale, Colorado, that, for us Rifle burn-outs, has become a sort of sanctuary. Though your overall impression of the stone whilst whipping past at 70 mph on your way to the Redstone boulders will be less than stellar, the climbing itself is good, and takes place on walls invisible from the highway.

The rock is a fractured sort of granite, grey-green in hue, with black streaks coursing down the slabbier walls. The cliffs themselves are not unlike a multi-faceted sea wall holding back an ocean of scree. Ironically, however, the scree is produced by the decomposing sea wall itself. It is prone, in certain "high-danger" spots, to sloughing off great chunks, daggers and grey-green cobble-eggs that could certainly deflower even the sturdiest of climbing helmets, and the contents therein. Fortunately, for us, we need only walk under these heinous sectors of wall to reach the good, water-polished stone that has yielded all of this year's new routes.

That said, however, there is some great after-work-type climbing here: one-pitch sport and trad routes from 5.8+ to 5.13c. It is also a great area in the summer, as it's very shady and always breezy, especially in the depths of the Narrows Proper.

Getting There Suggest change

From Carbondale, drive south on CO Highway 133 as if you were driving toward Marble, McClure Pass, etc. CO 133 is the only highway through Carbonale ... it's not hard to miss. If you're coming from other parts on CO Highway 82, take a left (or right) at the stoplight at the junctions of CO Highways 82 and 133. Now proceed south on CO Highway 133.

I don't have exact mileage, but the deal is this: If you get to Redstone (15 miles from Carbondale?), you've gone too far. The beta is this: Driving south on CO 133, you'll first pass through an area of red rocks and sand, big ol' Mount Sopris looming high on your left. After a bit, however, the canyon begins to narrow, and you'll see a band of shattered whitish rock coming up fast, limning the two sides of the canyon. This is the Narrows, basically knows as such because it's also the narrowest point in the canyon. Drive slowly past the rocks and, just before the cliffs on your right peter out, locate a HUGE, I mean HUGE, parking lot on the left. This is the parking lot for the free hot springs. I've never been down in the springs, but there's them that have. Not for me. I just park and get my climbing stuff and get gone.

Walk back down-canyon (north), hugging the guard rail or, for safety, walking in the bushes behind it, for roughly 50 yards, until the roadcut to your left (esentially the west side of the highway) goes from vertical to the slabby and you spot a cairned, convenient ingress. The trail here is a bit raw, but basically follows the "old game track" up the hill as it switches-back, bringing you ever closer to the rocks, which will be on your right. After about 20 minutes of this, you'll reach a fork, hard at the toe of an appealing red-and-brown buttres. Head up and left to reach BJ's area (5.8 sport, 5.10+ sport, 5.11 sport). Otherwise head right to reach the Narrows Proper, a deep, shadowy slot offering bouldering traverses, sport routes (5.11a, 5.13b) and trad pitches (5.8+, 5.10a, 5.10+, 5.13c) on nearly bomber water-polished rock.

63 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at The Narrows

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 17
People's Crack
Trad
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 58
Been Caught Stealin'
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 32
Jenga Buttress Crack aka 10a Crack
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 22
Little Robots in Your Pants
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 26
Snap, Crackle, Pop
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 46
Party At Your Mama's House
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 28
The Art of Breaking
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 23
Slice and Dice
Sport
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 16
Cleanup Hitter
Sport
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 18
Back From The Dead
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 12
Deep Eddy
Sport
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 12
One Step Closer
Sport
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
Huge-a-thon
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 7
Red Faction
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 4
Slice of Death
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
People's Crack Narrows Proper
 17
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Been Caught Stealin' Schoolyard
 58
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Trad
Jenga Buttress Crack aka 1… Narrows Proper
 32
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Little Robots in Your Pants Watchtower
 22
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Snap, Crackle, Pop Narrows Proper
 26
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Party At Your Mama's House Front Porch
 46
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
The Art of Breaking Narrows Proper
 28
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Slice and Dice Front Porch
 23
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Cleanup Hitter Front Porch
 16
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Sport
Back From The Dead Front Porch
 18
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Sport
Deep Eddy Narrows Proper
 12
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
One Step Closer Front Porch
 12
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
Huge-a-thon Gash > Trifle Wall
 4
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Red Faction Narrows Proper
 7
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Slice of Death Gash > Left Side
 4
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in The Narrows »

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