The Training Grounds  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  3,557. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Jay Eggleston on Oct 11, 2010 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed 66° | 34° 57° | 30° 52° | 30° 59° | 32° 68° | 36°

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: Follow the sign.

Description 

The Training Grounds is located in the lower west valley of the Devil's Head area. It contains 6 routes at present, all easier than 5.10. The wall faces east which provides morning sun or afternoon shade. The wall is about 50' high and well featured with chickenheads and incut holds. This is a great place for the novice leader.

Getting There 

Park at the regular fire tower trailhead. Hike the trail to just before the bridge and pass behind a log fence onto another trail on the right. This is the old trail to the fire tower. After hiking approximately ten minutes, and after a big switchback, look for a another trail on the right which heads south. This trail is marked by some cairins and logs. Another 5 minutes of hiking will take you up over a pass. From here, the trail descends to the south. A fork marked with signs pointing to the Training Grounds to the right and Chickenhead Ranch to the left will soon be reached. Head to the right, uphill, on a trail marked with cairins. The Training Grounds will be on your left. After reaching a level pass head left, next to the rock, to the start of the routes.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Training Grounds

Practice Run 5.8  CO : South Platte : ... : The Training Grounds

Follow the 2nd bolt line from the right. Short cruxes are encountered at the overhangs which are easier if tall (still fun for the small though). Head up the face aiming for the center of a small arch. The yellow lichen bulge is the first difficulty, then pull over the arch onto really cool chicken heads, and head up and slightly right to a shared anchor. Clipping the anchor is probably the real crux, since everything is a little sloping and insecure (compared to all the in-cut holds to whic...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of The Training Grounds Slideshow

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Training Ground overview....	The Training Grounds from Ravenslab.	Early crowd.
Chris Perkins absorbs the possibilities on a blue-...	Training Ground from Chicken Head Ranch.