Sobo Rock Climbing
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Elevation: | 8,422 ft | 2,567 m |
GPS: |
39.9536, -105.29954 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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Page Views: | 13,948 total · 51/month | |
Shared By: | Tony B on Feb 25, 2002 | |
Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Update: as of 6/7/23 per Mike McHugh, ECSP: all closures have been lifted within Eldorado Canyon State Park, including Continental Crag.
Crags on Eldorado Mountain, such as Mickey Mouse wall and Cryptic Crags, are outside of park boundaries and may still be subject to Boulder County closures.
Previously in 2023: per M. McHugh, ECSP: the upper loop of the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail, above the Crags Hotel Ruin, & the
Continental Divide Overlook, is closed effective immediately. This included Continental Crag.
These areas are closed to all activities, including rock climbing & hiking, through 7/15 or until further notice, to protect nesting golden eagles on the S side of the canyon.
Golden Eagles are protected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service under authority of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A conviction of nest disturbance can carry a fine to $5,000 & one year imprisonment.
See the map in the photo section for terrain closure.
Previous years: per Dustin Bergman, CO State Parks Officer #770, ECSP:
Seasonal Raptor Closures
Check Park site for current closures:
cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/…
For more info visit:
cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/…
Double check prior to venturing there. Thanks!
Crags on Eldorado Mountain, such as Mickey Mouse wall and Cryptic Crags, are outside of park boundaries and may still be subject to Boulder County closures.
Previously in 2023: per M. McHugh, ECSP: the upper loop of the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail, above the Crags Hotel Ruin, & the
Continental Divide Overlook, is closed effective immediately. This included Continental Crag.
These areas are closed to all activities, including rock climbing & hiking, through 7/15 or until further notice, to protect nesting golden eagles on the S side of the canyon.
Golden Eagles are protected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service under authority of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A conviction of nest disturbance can carry a fine to $5,000 & one year imprisonment.
See the map in the photo section for terrain closure.
Previous years: per Dustin Bergman, CO State Parks Officer #770, ECSP:
Seasonal Raptor Closures
Check Park site for current closures:
cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/…
For more info visit:
cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/…
Double check prior to venturing there. Thanks!
Per Tony B: Sobo and the other Southern OSMP crags (Split Block, Diamond Head, The Veil, are NOT closed these days as specified on the map here: maps.bouldercolorado.gov/wi….
Likewise, they no longer require an HCA permit either.
Likewise, they no longer require an HCA permit either.
Description
Sobo is another rare "wilderness setting" within Eldorado canyon. There is a string of summits extending from Rincon to the north/north west, including Cadillac Crag, The Veil, Physical Crag (and Split Block), Diamond Head, and Sobo, which is the most remote and probably the least visited of these does not see much traffic, even on holiday weekends. My partner left a pair of sunglasses at the base of a route there in July of 1996. I picked them up in February of 2002. This may be the best place to go if you fear crowds in Eldo.
The old Rossiter guide listed only 3 routes at Sobo, but there are now at least 10. Five of these are very good single-pitch cracks, and would have climbers cued up like Calypso if they were close to the road. These alone are are worthy of a hike in for a day of climbing.
There is potential for a few more lines if someone wants to do a few hair-raisers.
Top-roping at Sobo would be difficult though, due to a lack of good summit access trails. Much like the other crags in this summit chain.
From the Eldorado Trail, Sobo looks like a large Triangle, just West Diamond Head, and East of the summit cliff-band of South Boulder Peak. Sobo faces predominantly South, and gathers light all day. The climbs are mostly pure crack, such as Good Cleavage, Cruising For Bulgar, Dreams Of Light, and the wider Dreams of Darkness. The two moderate routes, Marsupial and Sugar Glider, involve some runout face climbing. Most of the known routes on this rock would be or are starred routes in the local guidebooks, but none see much traffic.
Descent: To descend after climbing, scramble and walk left off of the top around a corner to the northwest, and then down to a tree with a red sling. Rap 50' from the sling to the ground and then walk back among the corner to your packs. This is an easy descent and should take about 5 minutes. Some down-climbing could be eliminated with another sling around the uppermost tree.
The old Rossiter guide listed only 3 routes at Sobo, but there are now at least 10. Five of these are very good single-pitch cracks, and would have climbers cued up like Calypso if they were close to the road. These alone are are worthy of a hike in for a day of climbing.
There is potential for a few more lines if someone wants to do a few hair-raisers.
Top-roping at Sobo would be difficult though, due to a lack of good summit access trails. Much like the other crags in this summit chain.
From the Eldorado Trail, Sobo looks like a large Triangle, just West Diamond Head, and East of the summit cliff-band of South Boulder Peak. Sobo faces predominantly South, and gathers light all day. The climbs are mostly pure crack, such as Good Cleavage, Cruising For Bulgar, Dreams Of Light, and the wider Dreams of Darkness. The two moderate routes, Marsupial and Sugar Glider, involve some runout face climbing. Most of the known routes on this rock would be or are starred routes in the local guidebooks, but none see much traffic.
Descent: To descend after climbing, scramble and walk left off of the top around a corner to the northwest, and then down to a tree with a red sling. Rap 50' from the sling to the ground and then walk back among the corner to your packs. This is an easy descent and should take about 5 minutes. Some down-climbing could be eliminated with another sling around the uppermost tree.
Getting There
From the Eldorado Canyon Train, starting as for Rincon or Cadilac crag, passing the Rincon cut-off. Continue on the trail until you are directly below Diamond Head, then scramble uphill over talus to reach the base of Diamond Head, then traverse West to Sobo. This should take about 60-90 minutes. There are some sections of marked trail (cairns) down from Diamond Head, but even from the top down, these can be difficult to follow, and you may end up just wandering down the hill. Although there is not much of a trail, the hike is much longer than it is difficult, if you make it a point to avoid any thickets.
Per Tony Bubb: Sobo is not within the Eldorado Canyon SP. Thus, it is not under the state park jurisdiction.
Per Tony Bubb: Sobo is not within the Eldorado Canyon SP. Thus, it is not under the state park jurisdiction.
Classic Climbing Routes at Sobo
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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