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Porky's Wall Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Porky's Wall

L › R R › L A › Z

	Alien Tuna S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Hand Pain Jam T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a X

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Elevation:	6,520 ft
GPS:	39.34268, -104.75801 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	3,145 total · 12/month
Shared By:	Dan Mottinger on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

Access Issue: Historical seasonal raptor closures with 2023 updates Details

Per Castlewood Canyon: there is a new closure for nesting raptors this year: Five and Dime will be closed March 1st through July 31st. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me, Rachel Chaffee (Park Ranger) at dnr_castlewood.canyon@state.co.us or by phone at 303-688-5242.

Per Garrett Garner-Wells:

the current raptor closures, announced by CPW and reported on Denver7:

The following climbing route closures are currently in place:

- Morning Sun Wall is closed March 1-July 31.
- Porky’s Wall is closed March 1 - July 31.
- Vultures Wall is closed March 1-July 31. (per Rachel, CCSP Ranger, dnr_castlewood.canyon@state.co.use or 303-688-5242)
- Shakespearean Theater is closed March 1-May 31.
- Mind Meld is closed March 1-May 31.

As of 2020:

There is a very new and active nest of owls midway up the cliff at the north end of the Neanderthal Wall between Cro-Mag and Up The Red. There is no active nest around the south end of Neanderthal Wall.

As of June, 2017:

The 3 toprope routes at the far south end of Neanderthal Wall (far north end of Allied Wall) have a nesting pair of Snowy Owls. Please stay off these routes until further notice. The park has been notified and hopefully some signage will be put up. The route Rock Rat is included.

As of March 7, 2012:

Shakespearean Theater - restricted March, April, May.
Mind Meld - restricted March, April, May.
Porky's Wall - restricted March, April, May, June, through July 31.
Vulture Wall - restricted March, April, May.
Morning Sun Wall - restricted March, April, May, June, July.

Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closure 2022 Details

Due to a variety of species that use Porky’s Wall for nesting, it will be closed annually from March 1 - July 31. If you have any questions you can email dnr_castlewood.canyon@state.co.us or call the park at 303-688-5242 to confirm any of this information.

Description

This is a relatively undeveloped cliff that doesn't see much traffic on the West Rim. There are only five documented routes at this cliff in Hanson's guidebook and for good reason--most of the rock is crumbly, discontinuous, or short. A few trad leads and two sport routes offer the true Castlewood aficionado one more isolated crag. Beware in the spring/summer of thick patches of poison ivy.

Getting There

This cliff is the southern most bit of rock on the West Rim, just West of the old dam ruins. It can be accessed from either the southern or northern park entrance.

From the North park entrance, park in the farthest south lot (next to the Cave Trail) and take the Creek Bottom Trail along the Cherry Creek all the way to the dam ruins. Take the dam trail past some dam steps to the top of the dam. Do not walk out on the dam. Take another trail away from the dam (which is currently closed for revegetation, but there's no other way to get to the wall, since walking on the road is also prohibited). Hike away (West) from the dam (damn I like saying that :-) and 30m North on the road to a semi clearing in the brush. Hike up to the most prominant looking section of rock.

From the South park entrance, take the Lake Gulch Trail (North) from the parking lot and down the cliff. You'll pass South Canyon Point on your right as the trail continues around the base of the cliffs. The trail will eventually intersect the Inner Canyon Trail near the creek. Take the IC trail North up to the dam ruins and up to the cliffs as described in the other approach.