All Locations > Colorado > Estes Park Valley > Big Thompson Canyon

Combat Rock Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Combat Rock

L › R R › L A › Z

	Across Enemy Lines T,S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Arkansas Patriot (aka Wonderin' Where the Lions Are) T,S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Battle Fatigue T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R
	Battle of Evermore T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13
	Battle of the Bulge (suggested name) T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Blood for Oil S 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	Camouflage T 5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c R
	Diagonal T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Eight Clicks to Saigon T,S 5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b PG13
	Front Lines T 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
	GI Joe Does Barbie T,S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Kasserine Pass T,S 5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c R
	Lizzard Warrior S 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
	Monkey Lust T 5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
	No More War T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Nobody Here But Us Chickens S 5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a X
	Nuclear Polka T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Old Bolt Route T,S 5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c PG13
	Pearl Harbor T,S,TR 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
	Rambo Santa S 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Saigon to Pearl Harbor T 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
	Sergeant Reckless T 5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Stronghold T 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a R
	Tree Roof T,S 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Unknown T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Unknown T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R
	Unknown 1 T,S 5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Unknown 2 T,S 5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
	Unknown 3 T,S 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
	Unknown 4 T,S 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c

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Elevation:	6,741 ft
GPS:	40.44204, -105.34428 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	56,763 total · 224/month
Shared By:	Tyler Jones on May 20, 2002 · Updates
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

Access Issue: Access issue - Monastery, Cedar Park, Combat Rock, etc.? Details

Per JF M: as of May 2022, there is no signage on-site, nor information on the USFS webpage for the Cameron Peak Fire (nor on their published map of closures) that indicates the area is closed.

Per Bruce Hildenbrand: it appears that the Forest Service has closed access to all the climbing areas accessed via Storm Mountain Road (Monastery, Cedar Park, Combat Rock, etc.) until they can clear all the dangerous dead trees from the Cameron Peak fire.

I worked this issue with Eric Murdock at the AF, and it looks like the Forest Service picked Devil's Gulch Road as the southern boundary even though all the climbing areas on MP.com were not burned.

Description

This south-facing 250-foot crag is a perfect spot to spend a day in the sun. With great quality granite, Combat Rock offers an assortment of discontinuous cracks, friction on the slabs, and a few roofs to jug over. Combat Rock would also be a great place to combine in a trip to Lumpy or anywhere else in the RMNP, since it's located between Loveland and Estes Park just outside the Big Thompson Canyon. It's not far off of US Hwy 34, has a short approach, and consists of mainly one and two-pitch climbs, so the crag can easily be hit in the morning or late afternoon for a few hours. You need to be creative with the protection here. Other than the bolted faces, the flaring cracks can be difficult to get a good piece in. You will only need a small rack, consisting mainly of wired stoppers, CAMP Tri-cams, and small cams up to a #1 Camalot or #2 Friend. There are a couple of routes, such as the second pitch of Diagonal, that you will need a couple of #2 Camalots for the fist jams.

It's also a good idea to bring two ropes, as most of the rappels are around 150 feet if you continue past the first pitch. There is walk-off descent, but it's definitely a hassle and takes longer than a couple back-to-back rappels.

Getting There

From Denver, take I-25 north to the Loveland exit. Head west on US 34 (Eisenhower Blvd. in Loveland) for about 17 miles through the Big Thompson Canyon. Exit at the intersection of Drake, and take a right onto Devil's Gulch Road. After a half mile, take another right onto Storm Mountain Rd. (which used to be called Cedar Park Rd. and labeled "Forest Access)." Follow the dirt road through some steep switchbacks for about a mile until Combat Rock is very apparent across the gulch. There's plenty of parking at a pulloff on the north side of the road. From the road, follow a path down into the gulch and up the other side directly to the base of the crag. It is only about a 10-minute approach.

From Boulder, take the Diagonal CO Hwy 119 to Longmont, and head north on Main St, which turns into US Hwy 287. US 287 will make an abrupt 90-degree right turn to the east at the Carter Lake turnoff in the town of Berthoud. I think the easiest way is to take your first left at the light and head north on Country Rd. 7. This heads straight into Loveland where you can take your left on Eisenhower Dr (US 34) and follow it into the mountains.

30 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Combat Rock

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

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 88 ● Rambo Santa Sport
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c PG13 19 ● Old Bolt Route Trad, Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 46 ● Tree Roof Trad, Sport 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 101 ● Diagonal Trad 2 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 34 ● GI Joe Does Barbie Trad, Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 32 ● No More War Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 48 ● Arkansas Patriot (aka Wonderin'… Trad, Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 23 ● Nuclear Polka Trad 2 pitches
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 3 ● Sergeant Reckless Trad 3 pitches
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b PG13 17 ● Eight Clicks to Saigon Trad, Sport 2 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 26 ● Saigon to Pearl Harbor Trad 2 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 25 ● Lizzard Warrior Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 23 ● Pearl Harbor Trad, Sport, TR 2 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 13 ● Across Enemy Lines Trad, Sport 2 pitches
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 4 ● Blood for Oil Sport 2 pitches