All Locations > Colorado > Denver South > Castlewood Canyon SP

The Grotto Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map This is our best guess at this area's location.
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Routes in The Grotto

L › R R › L A › Z

	Billiam T,TR 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Bumbles Bounce TR 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Dirty Dirt Diggler T,TR 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Fractolis T 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Grotto Chimney T,TR 5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
	Grotto Wall TR 5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Race the Storm T,TR 5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
	Summon an Elemental TR 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b

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GPS:	39.33111, -104.73864 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	6,508 total · 24/month
Shared By:	Dan Mottinger on Sep 15, 2002
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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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.

Description

This Castlewood rock section is close to the parking lot but sees very little traffic. The climbs are short to long and are found on the outside walls as well as in the grotto. The boulder which closes off the grotto provides simple up and down access on its SW side.

Getting There

To find this rock begin at the Southern Entrance to Castlewood Canyon and park at the second parking lot to the right (Juniper Rock). Take the paved trail E to NE until it meets up with the paved trail going along the rim top. You will see a railing overlooking the canyon; leave the trail and meet up with the cliff tops north of this first railing. Follow the rim top N past crevasses and cracks until you see The Grotto, with its large boulder and few toprope bolts. If you go to a second railing overlook, you have gone too far. The Grotto can be tough to find buy once you find it you will nearly be by yourself, even though the paved trail is very close.