All Locations > Colorado > Lyons > St Vrain Canyons > S Fork of St Vrain Ca…

Observatory Rock Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map This is our best guess at this area's location.
Fix Location

Routes in Observatory Rock

L › R R › L A › Z

	99% Pure T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Double Vision T 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Flop, The T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Glass Bead Game, The T,S 5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
	Jonah T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Mineral Secretion T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Original Route T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Panic in the Gray Womb T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Punch Line T 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	River, The T 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
	Skin Mechanic T,S 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Stargazing T 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
	Telescoping Sum T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Will Chevy Slab S 5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

GPS:	40.18578, -105.33685 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	15,085 total · 23/month
Shared By:	Richard M. Wright on Dec 31, 1969
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

Access Issue: MM 23-29.5 - now ended daily CO 7 highway closure/delays Details

Per Kai Bouwman: the daily CO 7 highway closure/delay access issue is no longer a problem according to CDOT the construction finished as of Nov. 11, 2022.

From CDOT: Colorado Highway 7 is closed daily from MP 23-29.5. Motorists can only travel through the area between 6-8 am and 4-7 pm. During these timeframes, pilot cars will lead alternating one-way travel. Drivers should plan for delays, and this schedule will remain in place through Memorial Day 2022.

During the closure, motorists need to take US 36 to CO 7.

codot.gov/projects/co7-lyon…

Description

Observatory Rock is composed of typical, and excellent, SSV granite. The crag faces South and Southeast providing cool climbing in the afternoon. It presently hosts fewer than a dozen described routes, and some combination of guides is probably useful for orientation. I have found the Falcon Guide by Peter Hubbel to contain more route descriptions than other sources; however, much of this is misleading. For example, routes listed as 130 feet long have turned out to be more like 65 feet long (truly). Routes span the gamut in terms of difficulty with 5.7 and 5.8 trad or 5.12d sport, although there are not many at any grade. The crag is well worth a day's visit.

Getting There

5.1 miles up the South Saint Vrain Canyon, via CO Highway 7, is a large pull-out on the right side of the road. This can be used for parking for Observatory Rock and the Narrows. Observatory Rock is directly above the parking and has a 5 minute approach.

Per Matt B: the nearby landowner believes this lies on his property, though NFS maps seem to contradict this. This crag should only be approached from the West to stay away from his property as much as possible. Keep a low profile.

14 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	Observatory Rock Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at Observatory Rock

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

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 35 ● Original Route Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 25 ● 99% Pure Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 4 ● Stargazing Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 4 ● Flop, The Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 8 ● Skin Mechanic Trad, Sport 2 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 3 ● Mineral Secretion Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 3 ● Panic in the Gray Womb Trad
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c 22 ● Will Chevy Slab Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 3 ● Double Vision Trad