All Locations > Colorado > S Platte > Cathedral Spires Area

Snake Buttress Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Snake Buttress

L › R R › L A › Z

	Dr Demento's Descending Demise T 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Geek Crack T,S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b PG13
	Go for it Lulu T 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Hairless T,S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Hodge Podge T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Hubba Bubba T 5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b PG13
	IIlusion Chain T,S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b PG13
	Jo Bubba S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Mr. Pitiful T,S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13
	Rude Boy AKA Rue Boy T,S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b X
	Seven Sharp T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Sidewinder T 5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b PG13
	Tronolane T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13
	Viper, The T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Wake of the Flood T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b PG13

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Explore this area in 3D

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	7,279 ft	2,219 m
GPS:	39.42158, -105.24641 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	13,939 total · 57/month
Shared By:	John McNamee on Feb 17, 2006
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closure - at least until Aug. 15, 2025 Details

Per Josh: for the first time in at least 5 years, it appears we have nestlings at the peregrine falcon eyrie at Cathedral Spires! The breeding pair has been present and made attempts at nesting all those years but have not gotten this close to fledging a nest in that time.

Ornithologists across the Front Range have noted that migration and the onset of the avian breeding season seemed to be delayed by around 7-10 days this year, possibly because of the timing and amount of spring precipitation. The peregrines at Cathedral laid eggs later than usual. Because of that, their nestlings may not be ready to leave the nest by the time our usual seasonal closure would end, after July 31. As such, the closure this year will remain until at least August 15 (an opening of August 16). This should give the nestlings the time they need to finish development and leave the nest area.

2023 info: jeffco.us/1531/Alerts-Closures

The Cathedral Spires area, including Block Tower, Cynical Pinnacle, Snake Buttress, the Dome, Hall of Mirrors, Sunshine Wall, and Poe Buttress, are closed annually starting March 1 for raptor nesting. After careful monitoring of nest sites, Jefferson County Open Space opens certain areas of Cathedral Spires and maintain spot closures for active nests through July 31st. Check back periodically during times of closure for updates: jeffco.us/open-space/parks/…

Note, JeffCo Open Space has notified us that access to The Bishop and Poop Point (along with all the Cathedral Spires Area) currently goes across JeffCo OS land. Despite information in some guidebooks (published or soon-to-be-published), the entire Cathedral Spires area is subject raptor nesting closures. Please be aware of the hefty fines associated with failure to observe these regulations.

Description

Snake Buttress contains a good number of bolted slab climbs, and a couple of nice cracks.

Getting There

To get to Snake Buttress, keep heading North past the normal parking for the Cynical Pinnacle parking area, for about 1/4 to 1/2 mile. Park in a pullout on the East side of the road (by the river). You will be directly below the rock and will see it as you drive up to the parking spot. You can spot the crag when you are looking at the back-side of the Cynical Pinnacle, and it will be to the right, and down a bit. Hike directly up the drainage, starting up an old road that is gated (steeper, and longer than it looks), and Snake Buttress will be the second major rock that you encounter. If you keep on the right path, you will encounter a couple of cairns on the way up. As a comparison, the approach is maybe a bit shorter than the approach to Cynical Pinnacle.

Per Jay Eggleston: the gated road now has a no trespassing sign on the gate.