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North Table Mountain/Golden Cliffs Rock Climbing
| Elevation: | 6,417 ft |
| GPS: | 39.768, -105.218 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
| Page Views: | 462,532 total · 2,145/month |
| Shared By: | Michael Komarnitsky on Dec 31, 2000 |
| Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac |
Access Issue: Rim Rock Trail Closure
Details
Rim Rock Trail at N. Table Mt. Park is closed through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory and ground-nesting bird habitat.
It's likely few climber go there, but it may affect the adverturous.
It's likely few climber go there, but it may affect the adverturous.
Description
Sitting above Golden, this popular cliff band faces south & west so it makes for comfortable winter/cold weather rock climbing. Most routes here are tightly bolted and generally short (60 foot range), so a 50m rope and 10 quickdraws will be sufficient for most routes. Toproping routes is easy to do, with quick access to the top and bolts just below the top of the cliffs. Be careful though; the rock at the top can be loose in places. Make sure you're safe when setting up said toprope. There is only a single trail leaving from each of the two parking lots, and it takes an obvious course up the hill to the cliffs above. Walking this trail, beware of rattlesnakes in the summer and fall. At the point where the trail meets the cliff, you are on the far right (east) side of the cliffs. Also, this area sees a lot of use and some anchors are being severly worn by people running topropes directly through anchors. If you plan to toprope, please preserve the resources by using quickdraws or 'biners to run the rope through, and whenever possible rap off rather than lowering through the anchors.
Note, as the years have gone by and the popularity of this area has increased, the rock has become polished in places...amazingly so in spots. In particular, warm days will increase this characteristic and leave the infrequent visitor feeling sandbagged at times. Beware.
The climbing access here has been preserved with an amazing cooperation of landowner (Mr. Peery), city of Golden, and organizations like AMC, RMFI, and the Access Fund. The area straddles land owned by Golden and Jefferson County Open Space. Note, the regulations will vary slightly as you cross properties.
There is a dumpster here; however, consider recycling your cans and bottles rather than filling landfills.
Note, with time & popularity, some of the basalt here is getting quite polished, similar to limestone.
Note, as the years have gone by and the popularity of this area has increased, the rock has become polished in places...amazingly so in spots. In particular, warm days will increase this characteristic and leave the infrequent visitor feeling sandbagged at times. Beware.
The climbing access here has been preserved with an amazing cooperation of landowner (Mr. Peery), city of Golden, and organizations like AMC, RMFI, and the Access Fund. The area straddles land owned by Golden and Jefferson County Open Space. Note, the regulations will vary slightly as you cross properties.
There is a dumpster here; however, consider recycling your cans and bottles rather than filling landfills.
Note, with time & popularity, some of the basalt here is getting quite polished, similar to limestone.
Organization
There are 4 access points for these crags - the North Table Mountain Park parking lot along CO 93, the Access Fund lots on Peery Parkway, the on ramp area onto CO 58 from Easley Road, and the "blue house" trailhead along Ulysses Way/W 43rd Drive.
On top of the mesa (usually access from the CO 93 lot):
Sea Cliffs of North Quarry
Crater Crag of North Quarry- which is just opposite North Quarry / Pinnacle Area
The sections of crags below the top here L->R:
A. North Quarry / Pinnacle Area
B. The Risk Area
C. Winterfest Wall
D. The Hot Spot Area
E. Winter Warmer Area
F. Twelve Pack Wall
G. Industrial Buttress
H. MBA Buttress
I. Trad Lands
J. Table Top Area
K. Overhang Area
L. Brown Cloud Rocks
M. Child Free Zone (buttresses above & below) - trail comes up below this area.
These areas utilize different parking either off Easley Rd. or Ulysses Way:
N. The Quarry Wall
O. The East Quarry
P. EMF Wall
On top of the mesa (usually access from the CO 93 lot):
Sea Cliffs of North Quarry
Crater Crag of North Quarry- which is just opposite North Quarry / Pinnacle Area
The sections of crags below the top here L->R:
A. North Quarry / Pinnacle Area
B. The Risk Area
C. Winterfest Wall
D. The Hot Spot Area
E. Winter Warmer Area
F. Twelve Pack Wall
G. Industrial Buttress
H. MBA Buttress
I. Trad Lands
J. Table Top Area
K. Overhang Area
L. Brown Cloud Rocks
M. Child Free Zone (buttresses above & below) - trail comes up below this area.
These areas utilize different parking either off Easley Rd. or Ulysses Way:
N. The Quarry Wall
O. The East Quarry
P. EMF Wall
Getting There
For the bulk of North Table: from the east, take I-70 west to CO Hwy 58. Get off at Boyd St. Go to the 2nd stop sign. Go straight/uphill on Plateau following it briefly as it curves right. Go left and then take the first right onto Peery Pkwy. The sign says "Dead End". Go to the end of the street, continue past the gate. There are 2 lots - the "overflow" to the left and the main lot (with the pit toilet).
From the north, take CO Hwy 93 south to Golden. Just as you enter town, take a left on Washington St. Follow Washington to 1st Street, and take another left. Once across the bridge at the bottom of the hill, take a right on Partridge Cr. Turn left (east) on Ptarmigan St. Ptarmigan St. which will turn into Peery Pkwy.
From the west, take US 6 on to CO 58. Exit Washington St and go south to 7th Ave. Go east to Ford St. Go east (just after crossing under CO 58) on 7th Pl. Go north (left) onto Boyd St. Follow this as it goes uphill and curves right and becomes Plateau Pkwy. Take a left and go uphill on to Peery Pkwy to its end as it also curves right (east).
For the above, follow Perry onto a dirt road that will lead to one of two parking lots. The lower lot has the outhouses. Both lots have trails which head uphill. For reference, the new Access Fund trail comes up to the main cliff just below This Ain't Naturita, Pilgrim in the Overhang Area.
The old parking lot from the '90s has been converted into a home & garden.
For the Crater Crag/North Quarry of North Table and possible the left end of the main cliffs: from the intersection of US 6/CO 58/CO 93, head north. On the right, past Pine Ridge Rd. / Wyoming Cir. will be the North Table Mountain Park parking lot. Head up the gravel road.
For the East Quarry, Quarry Wall, and East Bluffs of East Quarry: see the subareas for directions that utilize the MacIntyre exit off CO 58 and Easley Rd.
From the north, take CO Hwy 93 south to Golden. Just as you enter town, take a left on Washington St. Follow Washington to 1st Street, and take another left. Once across the bridge at the bottom of the hill, take a right on Partridge Cr. Turn left (east) on Ptarmigan St. Ptarmigan St. which will turn into Peery Pkwy.
From the west, take US 6 on to CO 58. Exit Washington St and go south to 7th Ave. Go east to Ford St. Go east (just after crossing under CO 58) on 7th Pl. Go north (left) onto Boyd St. Follow this as it goes uphill and curves right and becomes Plateau Pkwy. Take a left and go uphill on to Peery Pkwy to its end as it also curves right (east).
For the above, follow Perry onto a dirt road that will lead to one of two parking lots. The lower lot has the outhouses. Both lots have trails which head uphill. For reference, the new Access Fund trail comes up to the main cliff just below This Ain't Naturita, Pilgrim in the Overhang Area.
The old parking lot from the '90s has been converted into a home & garden.
For the Crater Crag/North Quarry of North Table and possible the left end of the main cliffs: from the intersection of US 6/CO 58/CO 93, head north. On the right, past Pine Ridge Rd. / Wyoming Cir. will be the North Table Mountain Park parking lot. Head up the gravel road.
For the East Quarry, Quarry Wall, and East Bluffs of East Quarry: see the subareas for directions that utilize the MacIntyre exit off CO 58 and Easley Rd.
Fauna
Note, there are rattlesnakes here. Occasionally, folks wind up in the ER or ICU ($$$) with envenomations. Watch your dog, too. Use caution!
Dogs
According to a Jefferson County Open Space ranger, dogs in the Jefferson County Open Space section (Winter Warmer and left and on top of the mesa) should be on leashes.
Update: as of 2/29/12, there were Golden Animal Control officers at the trailhead who were enforcing an apparently new leash law requiring dogs to be on leash. Given they were handing out "free leashes" for now, it suggests this is a new regulation that applies to the overflow lot.
The lower lot, trail, and a good chunk of the land below the main parts of the cliff are owned by the Access Fund. They do not have regulations on leashes.
Update: as of 2/29/12, there were Golden Animal Control officers at the trailhead who were enforcing an apparently new leash law requiring dogs to be on leash. Given they were handing out "free leashes" for now, it suggests this is a new regulation that applies to the overflow lot.
The lower lot, trail, and a good chunk of the land below the main parts of the cliff are owned by the Access Fund. They do not have regulations on leashes.
Classic Climbing Routes at North Table Mountain/Golden Cliffs
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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Photos
46 Comments
More About North Table Mountain/Golden Cliffs
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Guidebooks (18)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Fort Collins CO
But as I go back & back again, this place grows on me. It's unique featured vertical faces & sculptured holds makes this an area worth practicing various grades to apply to trad lines. Overall, a good place to kick back & work on better climbing moves. Mar 1, 2006
Denver, Colo.
Parker, CO
Grade?
Name?
Thank you,
Dale Sep 11, 2007
Evergreen, CO
Thanks,
Laura Oct 16, 2007
Santa Monica, Ca.
Longmont, CO
It must be the way these guys think, but it seems totally backwards, the photos are totally ambiguous (they all seem to look the same and seem massively underexposed) and (as Christian pointed out) there are absolutely no route descriptions. This guide is not worth the paper it is printed on and I hope that someone is putting together a new one (maybe with some color - or at least better photos)...until then, I will probably continue to wander around, looking for someone who knows the area better than me... Nov 10, 2007
Golden, CO
Westminster, CO
Westminster, CO
Highlands Ranch
Wherever we park!
- Lost* 3 rings. Mid-November, climbing near Brown Cloud Rocks. Lost wedding ring set + turquoise ring. Please email if found. Thanks!!
Dec 20, 2009This guide has a color cover 144 pages with 46 black & white photos, topo drawing and maps.
As for the Golden Cliffs the book goes from right to left. Starting with the first cliff you come to on the approach trail being the Child Free Zone and ending at the Risk Area. This is the opposite from Ben Schneider & Jason Haas's guide to goes from the north and work south and east (backwards). I think this is very useful. Also the map of the area is much improved. The approach information to the South Quarry and Pinnacle Area shows a better trail or boadbed. Even if you have the beautiful color guide, I think my guide will prove very useful with year round climbing possibilities near Golden. Oct 1, 2010
Castle Rock, CO
Coors Light and guitar key chain attached.
Email me at chad.maurer@9news.com if they are yours. Feb 20, 2011
Wheat Ridge
Englewood, CO
Whoever is marking the bottom of the climbs, this is not acceptable outside, that stays at the gym. This crag is so commonly used to bring beginners into our sport, it would be good if it could show a better example. When I was leaving the crag today, I saw a banana peel left on the ground and a used chalk ball.... Guys, please, can we make it seem that we're a little more mature?
Other note: Anyone got any ideas on how to get the markings off the wall? My first thought was power washer, but that seems a little impractical :). Mar 20, 2011
Around Boulder, CO
In that case, rubbing alcohol and some cloth will probably do the trick.
If I climbed there, I'd take care of it myself, but I don't. Mar 21, 2011
Denver, CO
Westminster, Colorado
The net of it is that the overflow lot where the animal control folks were is not owned by the Access Fund. The lower lot is owned by the Access Fund. The trail and a good chunk of the land under the normal cliffs to somewhere near the Winter Warmer/Fence area is owned by the Access Fund. The area to the left (Winter Warmer area and left) and the top of the mesa are owned by Jefferson County Open Space.
The Access Fund doesn't have regulations regarding dogs and leashes. However, they said, if/when in doubt, place your dog on a leash so as to avoid a ticket, since the property boundaries are not always clearly indicated.
JeffCo OS has regulations about having dogs on leases. I spoke with Mike Morin about this.
Apparently Golden must have some regulation about dogs on leashes now. Mar 2, 2012
Orono, ME
Salt Lake City, Utah
Yes, there is climbing. Clear Creek Canyon is the best local option, N. Table Mtn. is your closest second option, but it gets sun all day and is just okay. There are guides and they can be found at Bent Gate Mountaineering on Washington St. in Golden. Feb 6, 2013
Morrison, CO
Denver, Colorado
If ya find it, Onegreyshirt@gmail.com. Oct 14, 2013
Lakewood, CO
Lyons, CO
Boulder, CO
Boulder
I'm planning to replace some bolts. If you know of routes that you would like to see fixed, list them in that thread.... Mar 5, 2018
Eldorado Springs, CO