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High Wire Crag Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in High Wire Crag

L › R R › L A › Z

	5th of July S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Ace in the Hole S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Bouncer S 5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
	Bypass S 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Contrarian, The T 5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
	Cracker Jack S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Dead End Crack T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Deuces Wild S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Everyday Struggle S 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
	Everything Rhymes with Orange S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Full House S 5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Ghetto Activity S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Ghetto Head S 5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Head Up Activity S 5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Head Up Dirty S 5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
	Hip at the Lip S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a PG13
	Idiot Savant S 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Idiot's Roof T 5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Indirect Savant S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Jackpot S 5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
	Left Long Moderate Dihedral (originally submitted as Crack Swindler) T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Life After Death S 5.13b/c 8a+ 29 X- 30 E7 6c
	Machine Gun Funk S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Moderate Dihedral T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Nickels and Dimes S 5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Notorious S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Overpass S,TR 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Passing Lane S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13
	People's Choice S 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Poker Face S,TR 5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Pony Up S 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Power Play T,S 5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b PG13
	Road Kill S 5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
	Road Rash Roof S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Road Warrior S 5.12c/d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Savage, The S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Slot Machine S 5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Stone Cold Moderate S 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Via Comatose Amigo S 5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
	Wild Card S 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a

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Elevation:	6,525 ft
GPS:	39.7378, -105.3196 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	246,978 total · 906/month
Shared By:	Michael Komarnitsky on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closures/CDOT Road Work Details

Please be aware of the annual raptor seasonal closures!

Raptor Closures Effective February 1-July 31

Visit: jeffco.us/open-space/news/2…

Tunnel 1 closure
For more details visit: jeffco.us/open-space/alerts…

CCC Raptor Nesting Closure 1 (MM 270, W of Tunnel 1). Photo reconfiguration: Ron Keller.

CCC Raptor Nesting Closure 2 (E of Tunnel 2). In 2016, the closure WAS lifted June 9 for ONLY the 2016 season, per Eric Krause, JeffCo OS Ranger. Photo reconfiguration: Ron Keller.

The two areas Jefferson County Open Space intends to close in Clear Creek Canyon, shown on the attached maps, encompass the active eagle nests. If the Clear Creek eagles continue to nest in the active nests, these areas will remain closed from February 1 through July 31. If the eagles choose different nesting sites, the closures will be adjusted accordingly to protect those eagles during their breeding season.

Currently, rock climbing areas that fall inside of the seasonal raptor closures include:

Blonde Formation
Bumbling Stock
Evil Area
Ghost Crag
Highlander
Skinny Legs
Stumbling Block
Tetanus Garden
Fault Caves

June 7, 2021 - TBD: Highway 6 is currently doing full road closures from Sunday night to Friday morning every week. The closure is from the junction of Highway 119 and Highway 6 to the junction of Highway 40 and Highway 6 (mile post ~260 to ~257). Vehicles that remain in the closure will be towed at owners expense.

Sundays: 7PM-4AM
Monday-Thursday: 4PM-4AM

Description

This is a nice rock, easily seen from the road. There are a number of medium difficulty sport climbs well protected here. People's Choice always seems to have people on it, as well as the routes on the far left side. It is a great place for beginner sport leaders.

Note, this has become popular with large group outings.

Getting There

Get on US 6 from Golden, going West. High Wire Crag is directly above east entrance to Tunnel 2, which is 4.9 miles from the FIRST TUNNEL. Park before the bridge, on either side. Be careful - the road shoulders are small, and there are always buses full of old people on their way up to Blackhawk. Walk across the bridge on the south side (a little sketchy), and walk south up the hill following the trail up to the rock. There is a bit of exposed 3rd to 4th Class which has injured the less than wary.

To approach the right side of the crag, you ascend a gully off the north side of the road and cut back to these climbs.

Parking

The "NO PARKING ZONE" is on the SOUTH side of the road. The fine is at least $22. It has been that way since before the crushed car, ~2006. (Now that was an amazing photo!)

Parking is permitted on the NORTH side of the road, the side nearest the creek a few hundred yards to the east.

L->R:

A. Everything Rhymes with Orange, 9, 1p, 85', bolts.
B. Pony Up, 8, 1p, 80', bolts.
C. Poker Face, 8 or 9, 1p, 80', bolts.
D. Arete, 9, 1p, 80', TR.
E. Stone Cold Moderate, 7, 1p, 85', gear or bolts.
F. 5th of July, 9+, 1p, 85', bolts.
G. Ace in the Hole, 10-, 1p, 85', bolts.
H. Left Long Moderate Dihedral (originally submitted as Crack Swindler), 6-8, 1p, 85', gear or TR.
I. Cracker Jack, 9, 1p, 80', gear or bolts.
JI. Bypass, 10, 1p, 80', bolts.
KI. Overpass, 11+, 1p, 80', bolts
LI. Passing Lane, 9 PG-13, 1p, 85', bolts.
LM. The Contrarian, 9-, 1p, 60', bolt & gear.
M. Deuces Wild, 10-, 2p, 135', bolts.
N. Via Comatose Amigo, 10, 1p, 125', bolts.
O1. Moderate Dihedral, 7, 2p, 200', gear.
O2. Jackpot, 10+ to 12, 1p, 110', bolts.
P. Road Rash Roof, 12-, 1p, 100', bolts.
Q. Dead End Crack, 7, 1p, 60', gear.
R1. The Savage, 12+, 1p, 80', bolts.
R2. Road Warrior, 12+, 1-2p, 130', bolts.
S. Road Kill, 12-, 3p, 200', bolts.
T. In Between Days, 10, 1p, 60', TR.
U. People's Choice, 10+, 1-4p, 210', bolts.
V. Nickels and Dimes, 8+, 2p, 110', bolts & gear.
W. Slot Machine, 11+/12-, 1p, 85', bolts, (right of P3 of S).
X. Full House, 11+ or 12, 1p, bolts (right of P3 of S).
YX. Bouncer, 11+, 1p, bolts, (right of P3 of S).
Z. Wild Card, 12, 1p, bolts (right of P3 of S).

Right of Tunnel (different approach)

AA. Power Play, 12 PG-13, 1p, 140', bolts.
BBAA. Hip at the Lip, 12-, 1p, 140', bolts.
CC. Ghetto Activity, 10, 1p, 40', bolts.
DDCC. Ghetto Head, 12-, 1p, 40', bolts.
DD. Head Up Dirty, 12+, 1p, 100', bolts.
DDCC. Head Up Activity, 12-, 1p, 50', bolts.
above DD. Project, 1p, bolts.
EE1. Idiot's Roof, 11, 1p, 60', gear.
EE2. Machine Gun Funk, 13-, 1p, 80', bolts.
above EE. Everyday Struggle, 10+, 1p, 40', bolts.
FFEE. Indirect Savant, 12, 1p, 60', bolts.
GG. Idiot Savant, 11 or 12-, 1p, 60', bolts.
HH. Notorious, 13-, 1p, 40', bolts.
II. Life After Death, 13, 1p, 80', bolts.

Rattlesnake warning!

Beware: rattlesnakes have been known to frequent this area.

40 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at High Wire Crag

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 494 ● Stone Cold Moderate Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 457 ● Pony Up Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 405 ● Nickels and Dimes Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 475 ● Poker Face Sport, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 690 ● 5th of July Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 444 ● Cracker Jack Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 193 ● Everything Rhymes with Orange Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 358 ● Ace in the Hole Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 366 ● Deuces Wild Sport 2 pitches
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b 324 ● Via Comatose Amigo Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 631 ● People's Choice Sport 4 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 143 ● Overpass Sport, TR
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a 72 ● Road Kill Sport 3 pitches
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 107 ● Road Rash Roof Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 59 ● Machine Gun Funk Sport