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Elevation: 5,500 ft
GPS: 39.9316, -105.283
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Leo Paik on Mar 20, 2006
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Warning Access Issue: 2023 Seasonal Closures - lifted DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

This popular rock can be divided in character into its south and southwest face. The Southwest face has some of the most frequently climbed routes in Eldorado Canyon and is probably the best area in Eldorado Canyon for those seeking lower end difficulty climbing. The rock is stellar for the first two pitches of climbs on this face. Above this the rock has seen less traffic and still has loose rock for the unsuspecting climber. On its South face, you will find fewer companions, since its vertical face and spartan protection options will deter all but the most ardent suitors.

Once, the summit provided an anchor point for the cable upon which crossed Ivy Baldwin on many death-defying crossings of the canyon. The cable was taken down in 1974. Today, the cable remains testament to a disappearing breed of adventurer.

These are some of the earliest stomping grounds for Colorado legends like Layton Kor, Dick Bird, Dallas Jackson, Cleve McCarty, Larry Dalke, Pat Ament, Jeff Lowe, Jim Erickson, Steve Wunsch, Kevin Donald, Charlie Fowler, Duncan Ferguson, Kyle Copeland, Dan Hare, Mike Brooks, Richard Rossiter, and others.

Ultra-classics include: Calypso, 5.6; Wind Ridge, 5.6; the slippery Tagger, 5.10c; Metamorphosis, 5.9+ s; King's X, 5.11a s; and Rainbow Wall, 5.13a.

The low part of this wall does include some moderately popular bouldering and traversing.

Note, if anyone has particularly good base digital photos for rendering a topo for this page, please let me know.

Per Josh: heads up that material (including large rocks) is coming out of the cave under the giant flake at the base of Wind Tower this spring, and it threatens the usual staging area at the base of West Overhang, Recon, The Bomb, and the other right-side routes. If you are standing at the end of the trail or on the ledge at the base of the routes themselves, you're probably safe, but the shallow gully in between (directly downhill of the cave beneath the giant flake) is where many people sit while waiting to climb, stage their gear, etc., and that area was being rained on all afternoon today, starting with a microwave-sized block-- perhaps the one that was holding in all the soil and smaller rocks that are now trickling out. 

Getting There Suggest change

Once you enter Eldorado Canyon State Park, you will hopefully find parking within 200 yards in one of two areas. Park. Walk uphill to the obvious bridge across South Boulder Creek. Cross the bridge. Look up & right. Follow the trail to the SW face or veer right to the S face.

52 Total Climbs

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Location: The Wind Tower Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at The Wind Tower

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 459
The Bomb
Trad, TR 2 pitches
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 440
Breezy
Trad 2 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 1,090
Calypso
Trad 3 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 332
Tigger
Trad 3 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 285
Recon
Trad 3 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1,209
Wind Ridge
Trad 4 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 351
West Overhang
Trad 2 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 632
Reggae
Trad 2 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 145
Calypso Direct
Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 119
Diffraction
Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 169
The Metamorphosis
Trad
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 454
Tagger
Trad 2 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 101
King's X
Trad 2 pitches
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b X
 21
The Lion
Trad
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 21
Rainbow Wall
Trad, Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Bomb Wind Tower - SW Face
 459
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad, TR 2 pitches
Breezy Wind Tower - SW Face
 440
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad 2 pitches
Calypso Wind Tower - SW Face
 1,090
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 3 pitches
Tigger Wind Tower - SW Face
 332
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 3 pitches
Recon Wind Tower - SW Face
 285
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 3 pitches
Wind Ridge Wind Tower - SW Face
 1,209
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 4 pitches
West Overhang Wind Tower - SW Face
 351
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 2 pitches
Reggae Wind Tower - SW Face
 632
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 2 pitches
Calypso Direct Wind Tower - SW Face
 145
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Diffraction Wind Tower - S Face
 119
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
The Metamorphosis Wind Tower - S Face
 169
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Tagger Wind Tower - SW Face
 454
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad 2 pitches
King's X Wind Tower - S Face
 101
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad 2 pitches
The Lion Wind Tower - S Face
 21
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b X Trad
Rainbow Wall Wind Tower - S Face
 21
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Trad, Sport
More Classic Climbs in The Wind Tower »

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