Elevation: 5,793 ft
GPS: 39.1016, -108.7346
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Shared By: Ben Mottinger on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates
Admins: Jesse Zacher, Bradley Mark Edwards, Nick Reecy, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description

RAIN, WET ROCK: The sandstone in the Colorado National Monument is fragile and is very easily damaged when it is wet. Gear placement in wet sandstone also poses a safety concern. Please wait for the rock to dry prior to climbing.

The Monument is a fine area of desert climbing in Colorado. Just south of Grand Junction and Fruita, it offers many types of climbing found in Utah such as towers, splitter cracks, and soft Wingate & Entrada sandstone. The main attractions here are Independence Monument, a 400 foot tower; Sentinel Spire; and some other spires and pedestals. Some nice one-pitch routes line the canyon walls on the approach to Independence Monument. Look for many other multi-pitch routes around the entire park.

The best climbing season is fall through spring, as summers are generally too hot. Winters can be quite cold, but on a sunny day, you and the rock will warm up--Fruita is at a lower elevation than most of Colorado at about 4,500 feet, so it stays warmer because of that, too.

Camping is available along the Rim Rock drive within the park, but it is 20/site/night + park entry fee ($10, without a State Parks Pass, free with a pass) and includes a picnic table, grill, plus water and showers are available.

You may also camp just South of Fruita on CO Hwy 340 at the State Park area, which is $18/tent site + $7 park entry fee. If you want to go cheap, turn West at the Horsetooth Public Lands sign about a half mile South of I-70 and follow this road until it turns into BLM property. It's not the nicest area, but it's free.

Camping is also available in the North Fruita Desert BLM campground for $10/night in the campground (dispersed camping is free).

Another camping option is east of the park boundary in Rattlesnake Canyon or Black Ridge. From the Fruita entrance, go about 7 miles past the visitor center and take a right (east) at a Y in the road. Once you're outside of the park, camping is wide open and free.

Getting There

To get to Fruita, take I-70 toward Grand Junction--Fruita is about 9mi. West of GJ. Exit I-70 South onto CO Hwy 340 and take this to the appropriate entrance depending on what rock you plan to climb.

202 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Colorado National Monument

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 58
Luhr's Route aka Right Dihedral
Trad
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 492
Otto's Route
Trad 5 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 64
Left Dihedral aka Dihedral 1 ak…
Trad 2 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 61
Short, Cupped Hands
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 42
Circle, Square, and the Triangle
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 43
Steppin' On it
Trad
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 39
Dirty Martini
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 74
100' Hands
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 17
Super Crack of the Monument
Trad
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 54
Fast Draw
Trad 3 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 60
Long Dong Wall (aka Bell Tower)
Trad 5 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 26
Cool Breeze
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c C0
 35
Desert Solitaire
Trad, Aid 6 pitches
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 84
Medicine Man
Trad 4 pitches
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 12
Get A Life
Trad 5 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Luhr's Route aka Right Dihe… Monument Canyon
 58
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Otto's Route Independence Monument
 492
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 5 pitches
Left Dihedral aka Dihedral… Monument Canyon
 64
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 2 pitches
Short, Cupped Hands Tiara Rado
 61
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Circle, Square, and the Tri… Monument Canyon
 42
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Steppin' On it Liberty Cap
 43
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Dirty Martini Tiara Rado
 39
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad
100' Hands Tiara Rado
 74
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Super Crack of the Monument Red Canyon > Supercrack Buttress
 17
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Fast Draw Sentinel Spire
 54
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad 3 pitches
Long Dong Wall (aka Bell To… Kissing Couple… > Kissing Couple
 60
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad 5 pitches
Cool Breeze Liberty Cap
 26
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad
Desert Solitaire Monument Canyon
 35
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c C0 Trad, Aid 6 pitches
Medicine Man Sentinel Spire
 84
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad 4 pitches
Get A Life Monument Canyon
 12
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad 5 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Colorado National Monument »

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