Elevation: 6,950 ft
GPS: 39.98, -105.29 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 8,153 total · 37/month
Shared By: John Shields on Dec 31, 2000
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac
Access Issue: Temporary Trail and Raptor Closures Details

Description

This rock is mostly lower angled slabs of Fountain Formation sandstone with decent to excellent opportunities for protection (some runouts possible but the angle is VERY low here). Great area to practice placing pro on lead and it gets lots of sunny exposure (east-facing). Climbs here range from 5.0 up to about 5.12, with most being of the lower levels of difficulty.

Getting There

Follow Table Mesa Rd. to its end at NCAR. Park at NCAR and take the NCAR trail (TH on west end of parking lot, entrance) to Skunk Canyon trail. You are looking for Hillbilly Rock, situated directly below and east of the summit of Ridge One (Skunk Canyon). This is the first rock ridge encountered on the trail and it will be directly in front of you and before a switchback in the trail. At the apex of this switchback is a climber's trail that ascends a steep gully to the base of Ridge One. There are a few large outcroppings passed coming up the gully (they are climbable). Hillbilly Rock will be the first "wall" or face of any real size.

A less steep approach can be found by continuning on the Mesa Trail past Skunk Canyon's entrance to a point straight East of Hillbilly Rock. This may be less sketchy.

12 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Hillbilly Rock

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.1 2 6 II 7 MD 2a
 17
● Billy Goat Arete
Trad 2 pitches
5.1 2 6 II 7 MD 2a
 13
● East Face Center/Hillbilly
Trad 2 pitches
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c R
 21
● East Face South Side/Hillbilly
Trad 3 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Billy Goat Arete
 17
5.1 2 6 II 7 MD 2a Trad 2 pitches
● East Face Center/Hillbilly
 13
5.1 2 6 II 7 MD 2a Trad 2 pitches
● East Face South Side/Hillbilly
 21
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c R Trad 3 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Hillbilly Rock »

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Photos

West face.
West face.
 2
Flatirons formations near Skunk Canyon (Ridge One, Ridge Two, Hillbilly Rock, Hillbilly Flatironettes...).
Flatirons formations near Skunk Canyon (Ridge O…
 0
Summit.
Summit.
 0
Alternative and better approach from Mesa Trail instead of Skunk Canyon. Spread out and go easy on the meadow. There is no trail here. Right after switchback coming up out of the Skunk Canyon drainage from NCAR, look up hill for the double trunked Ponderosa pine, head straight for Hillbilly Rock.
Alternative and better approach from Mesa Trail…
 0
Some steep rock with a bit of potential on the south side.
Some steep rock with a bit of potential on the…
 0
West Face, 12, and West Face Right, 12. Two bolt & gear routes that are lightly protected.
West Face, 12, and West Face Right, 12. Two bo…
 0
Top of Hillbilly Rock.
Top of Hillbilly Rock.
 0
Prairie falcon near Hillybilly Rock.
Prairie falcon near Hillybilly Rock.
 0
Approaching Hillbilly Rock.
Approaching Hillbilly Rock.
 0
-Dave Fiorucci.
-Dave Fiorucci.
 0
The East face of Hillbilly Rock.
The East face of Hillbilly Rock.
 0

6 Comments

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George Bell
Boulder, CO
George Bell   Boulder, CO
Hillbilly Rock is not granite, but sandstone. Also, the upper end is now higher than 5.8 as it has two 5.12 sport routes on it's west face. Oct 9, 2001
Scott Edlin
boulder, co
Scott Edlin   boulder, co
After climbing Billy Goat Arete, I found no adequate rappel options from the summit. There is a wimpy tree with bad roots off to the west which appeared unsafe and would be difficult to downclimb to. There is a large summit block that I guess most people rap off of, but it appears completely undercut by a rotten layer of rock. The North Face route appeared littered with loose rock. There were no rap slings or fixed hardware anywhere. I downclimbed Warren's alternate descent route described under the North Face route and it was dirty, mossy, and lichen-covered. If I went back again, I would downclimb the entire Billy Goat Arete. One might imagine that the beginner nature of these climbs begs for a secure fixed rap anchor. Otherwise, this rock is probably best left to its namesake visitors. Jun 25, 2006
E Johnson
Boulder, CO
E Johnson   Boulder, CO
Anyone know if one can rap to either 5.12 anchor to descend from summit to ground? Jul 7, 2009
MAKB
Denver, CO
MAKB   Denver, CO  
Awesome summit! Someone post the 12s on here! Apr 21, 2013
Flatirons Climbing Council
Flatirons Climbing Council  
There is a new Hillbilly Rock route application being submitted for the May 2018 cycle of the FCC's Fixed Hardware Review Committee application process. The proposed route is on the west face with an estimated grade of 5.13a.

Please visit the FCC site flatironsclimbing.org/curre… to review the application and leave any comments you have. The public vote and meeting is at 6:30 pm on June 1 (Friday) at The Spot in Boulder, Colorado. Apr 29, 2018
Mark Roth
Boulder
Mark Roth   Boulder
Anyone find a hex behind or on top of Hillbilly Rock? I left it behind at the end of April. It has sentimental value. I'd gladly trade you the same size for it, or even a cam.... May 25, 2018