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Crescent Wall Rock Climbing

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Routes in Crescent Wall

L › R R › L A › Z

	Cleft Palate T 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R
	Crescent Arch T 5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
	Finger Lickin' Good T 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
	Flight for Life S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Friction Addiction T,S 5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
	Heaven Can Wait T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Lycra Bikers From Hell T,S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a R
	Milk Run T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b X
	Pressure Drop T 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
	Root Canal T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a

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GPS:	40.4032, -105.5182 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By:	J. Thompson on Sep 25, 2002
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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

The Crescent Wall is a classic chunk of Lumpy granite located at the far east end of the ridge. It is easily identified by the Crescent "arch" that forms a big roof splitting the entire upper section of the face. The routes tend to be in the Five hard range with 2 X-rated exceptions. While a few of the routes do breach the huge roof, most of them reach a mid-point anchor and a rappel back to the base. If you are looking for a place, at Lumpy,where you'll see few climbers (if any) this is it.

Getting There

There used to be 2 trailheads that can be used to access the Crescent Wall. However, now there is one trailhead. Hike north on the right trail and then go east (and a little south) on the Gem Lake trail until the rock is very obvious off to your right. Then contour over to the base.

10 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Crescent Wall

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

5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 28 ● Pressure Drop Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 21 ● Finger Lickin' Good Trad 2 pitches
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c 8 ● Crescent Arch Trad