Elevation: 7,408 ft
GPS: 40.43666, -105.31171
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 123,965 total · 560/month
Shared By: allen simons on Jan 24, 2005
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Access Issue: Access issue - Monastery, Cedar Park, Combat Rock, etc.? Details

Description

Palisade Mountain is the same mountain that Nancy's Rock (a.k.a. Rio Bravo and Cyclop's Slab), Becker Wall, and Skull Rock are located on. This is a huge mountain with some established routes and possibilities for 100s of other routes. Many slabs and crack systems exist. With the exception of Nancy's Rock, everything requires steep approaches and navigating through difficult rock bands, pine needles, and vegetation. The rock here is however very solid and potential for multi-pitch routes exist. There are some brief descriptions in the Estes Park Valley Guide by Bernard Gillett, but locating these routes is difficult in reality and even more difficult to explain.

Getting There

Palisade Mountain is located on US Highway 34 west of Loveland. From the Beige Siphon tube in the Narrows it is 6 miles, just a mile short of the town of Drake. The mountain is the obvious rocky crag hundreds of feet up the north side of the road. Park in the paved lot at Nancy's Rock and start on that trail. After 100 feet break off right and trail blaze up and right. I recently discovered some quartz cairns midway marking a pseudo trail.

Poison Ivy Alert

Eds. Note, there is much poison ivy for the sensitive.

101 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Palisade Mountain

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 13
These Ol' Bones
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 15
Pearly Burly Brooke
Trad 2 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 11
Channel Surfing
Sport
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 13
The Middle Man
Trad
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 25
Neighsayer
Trad 2 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 11
Kentucky Derby
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13
 7
Breeder's Cup
Trad 2 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 5
Funky Gold Patina
Trad, Sport 2 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 11
The Temple
Trad
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 8
Annie's Knotty Fingers
Trad
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 10
TDS
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 3
Vulgar Display of Power
Trad 2 pitches
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 5
The Distriminator
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 4
Pokey's Arete
Trad
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 4
Numbskulls
Sport, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
These Ol' Bones Skull Rock Area > Subskull
 13
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Pearly Burly Brooke Jewel of the Nile Wall
 15
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
Channel Surfing Skull Rock Area > Subskull
 11
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
The Middle Man Skull Rock Area > Subskull
 13
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Neighsayer Horseshead
 25
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad 2 pitches
Kentucky Derby Horseshead
 11
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Breeder's Cup Horseshead
 7
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13 Trad 2 pitches
Funky Gold Patina Horseshead
 5
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad, Sport 2 pitches
The Temple Skull Rock Area > Skull Rock
 11
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Annie's Knotty Fingers Mikey's Island
 8
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad
TDS Horseshead
 10
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad
Vulgar Display of Power Temple of Tao
 3
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad 2 pitches
The Distriminator Mikey's Island
 5
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad
Pokey's Arete Horseshead
 4
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad
Numbskulls Skull Rock Area > Subskull
 4
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport, TR
More Classic Climbs in Palisade Mountain »

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