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Lens Rock Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Lens Rock

L › R R › L A › Z

	Ain't My Gull To Whack T,TR 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b PG13
	Arch Crack T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
	Flakes of Glass T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R
	Frame, The T 5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Optic Nerve T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a X
	Spectacle, The T 5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13
	Tennis Shoe Tango T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
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Elevation:	8,526 ft	2,599 m
GPS:	40.40989, -105.54441 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	6,810 total · 24/month
Shared By:	Holly Barnard on Jun 4, 2002
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: 2024 Partial Seasonal Raptor Closures lifted 7/21/24 Details

From the Denver Post 7/21/24: some of the raptor closures have been lifted, officials announced.

Upper & Lower Twin Owls, Rock One, The Book and access trail, Bookmark, and Left Book were opened based on a park new release.

Closures have been extended for Thunder Buttress, access trail, The Parish, Cathedral Wall.

Closures above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond trail have been extended.

Per Brent Frazier: the raptor closures have been lifted in the Lumpy Ridge and Loch Vale Areas ( nps.gov/romo/raptor-closure…)

Each year, Rocky Mountain National Park initiates temporary closures in certain areas of the park to ensure that birds of prey will be undisturbed during their breeding and nesting seasons. These closures begin on February 15 and continue through July 31, if appropriate. Monitoring by park staff and volunteers have determined that all remaining closures can be lifted on July 28, 2023.

Per Matt Coghill: the Golden eagle nesting activity has extended Lumpy closures through Aug. 15, 2022 on Sundance, Thunder Buttress, and Needle Summit!

Per A.Eaton: the raptor closures have been lifted as of 6/4/2022 at Lumpy for the following formations:

Twin Owls
Rock One
Batman Rock
Batman Pinnacle
Checkerboard
Lightning Rock

Per the Denver Post: as of Feb. 15, 2022, Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Sundance, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Bookmark Pinnacle, The Left Book, Bookmark, Twin Owls, Rock One, and the Needle are closed for raptor nesting. These closures will continue through July 31, 2022 if needed.

All areas [were] OPEN to climbing for the 2021 post July season.

Closures ending July 31:
Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Lightning Rock, Checkerboard Rock - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Sundance - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
The Book Area: Left Book, The Bookmark, Bookmark Pinnacle, and the entire Book formation (including Renaissance Wall, Isis Buttress, Pages Wall Area, and J-Crack Slab Area)- nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Thunder Buttress and The Parish - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Twin Owls and Rock One - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Cathedral Wall - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…

When closed, the closures include the named rock formations and the areas surrounding the base of the formation. This includes all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes, and climber's access trails to the formation.

Areas not listed are presumed to be open. These closures will be lifted or extended as conditions dictate.

Description

Lens Rock is a 1-2 pitch crag located between the Bookend and the Citadel. It consists of mostly easy to moderate trad lines and couple of stiffer mixed routes. This small crag does offer a variety of fun climbing - chimney, off-width, finger to fist cracks and some face climbing too. I wouldn't consider this crag to be a destination, but it is worth a stop off to get another line in for the day if you are in the general area.

Climbs that ascend the actual lens feature of Lens Rock have rap anchors at the top. Most other climbs use a walk/scramble off to the east in the gully between Lens Rock and the Bookend. This walk off is not pleasant nor is it obvious. Work your way down a path of least resistance and be prepared for some 4th class scrambling/downclimbing.

Getting There

Lens Rock is most easily accessed from other crags. Take the Black Canyon Trail to the Bookend or to the Pear. From the Bookend: head west below the Bookend across the gully and you'll run into Lens Rock. From the Pear: head up and east the descent gully on the east (right) side of the Pear.

Lens Rock is easily identified by two features: its SE face that is shaped like a lens and a large balanced rock on its summit with crack lines running up to it.