The Sphinx  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  1,337. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Stefan Griebel on Apr 14, 2004 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 82° | 48° 81° | 52° 77° | 46° 73° | 46° 72° | 43°

Raptor Closure MORE INFO >>> The Sphinx is also in the closure that typically includes crags closed 1 February to 31 July: The Goose Goose Eggs East Ridge Mars Block Nebel Horn Tower of the Moon Jamcrack Spire The Pyramid Incognito Crag Devil's Thumb Shadow Fax Isolation Rock Sunset Wall Devil's Wing (W. Face) The Matron Lost & Found The Sibling Toddler Rock Medusa Rock 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 Flatirons Climbing Council Preserving climbing access in the Flatirons

BETA PHOTO: The Sphinx as viewed from above (Northwest) on the...

Description 

The Sphinx is a "fierce little crag" (Rossiter, 1999) south and across Shanahan canyon from the Shanahan Crags. When viewed from the north, you will immediately notice that the East face of The Sphinx is unlike most Flatiron East faces - it is steep! You can see The Sphinx well from several spots along the Mesa trail between the North and South Shanahan trails. Look for a fairly small, blocky Flatiron with a few trees on a ledge system about halfway up. This ledge system separates the Upper and Lower East Face routes, and you can walk off from here. There is one large tree on The Sphinx below and left of the aforementioned ledge system. This tree is directly above the chimney pitch of the Lower East Face (in fact, it is the anchor!), which can also be seen from the Mesa Trail.

The Riddle of The Sphinx is that it is one of the most seldom climbed Flatirons. The lower section isn't exactly chossy, but it is of lower quality than the classic upper east face. Still, this unique crag merits a visit.

Getting There 

Approach from the Cragmoor Trailhead via the South Shanahan Trail. Turn left (south) onto the Mesa trail, and continue for a hundred yards or so until you see a good spot to begin bushwacking up directly toward The Sphinx. The bushwacking is not too bad, and you should arrive at the base of the rock and the start of the lower east face shortly. Allow 45 minutes or so for the approach.

To descend from The Sphinx, downclimb the upper east face (class 3), and walk off the tree-covered ledge system to the north. Rock hop down into Shanahan canyon, and pick up the very faint Shanahan Canyon trail back to the Mesa Trail. Either go south and the Mesa trail and then left onto the South Shanahan Trail, or turn north onto the Mesa trail and make a scenic loop by descending the North Shanahan Trail back to the Cragmoor Trailhead.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Sphinx

Pharaoh's Tomb 5.10a PG13  CO : Flatirons : ... : The Sphinx

This route is the obvious chimney on the South face. Start below an overhanging section (crux) with big jugs and do some gymnastic moves to get into the chimney. From here, the route eases considerably but still has some good movement. Reach a pine tree about halfway up and either set up a belay or continue to the top of the formation, which can easily be done with a 70 meter rope. The start can be protected with small cams or nuts deep in the chimney, otherwise plan to do the crux without a...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of The Sphinx Slideshow

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One of the residents in the talus below the Sphinx...

Looking up at the Sphinx from the base.