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Blob Rock Area Rock Climbing
| Elevation: | 7,118 ft | 2,170 m |
| GPS: |
40.0025, -105.38777 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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| Page Views: | 267,809 total · 1,072/month | |
| Shared By: | Ron Olsen on Mar 29, 2006 | |
| Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Access Issue: Seasonal raptor closures for 2026 - Bitty Buttress, Blob, East Blob, Security Risk - open. Eagle Rock, Vampire, Black Widow Slab - closed.
Details
The USFS closed Blob, E Blob, Security, Bitty, Vampire, and Black Widow through 7/31/26.
5/19/25 Eagle Rock opened. 3/14/25: Bitty Buttress, Blob, & SR reopened.
2/3/25. Bitty Buttress, Blob, Eagle Rock &, Security Risk closed for raptors.
FS (3/27/24): Eagle Rock & Security Risk are now open!
2/1/24: W. McCurry: USFS annual closures in Boulder Canyon as of 2/1/24 - Blob Rock, Bitty Buttress, Eagle Rock, Security Risk.
W. McCurry: 2/10/23 Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security Risk opened. Eagle Rock is closed - info: fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news….
W. McCurry, NFS, Arap./Roo. NF: USFS began annual closures in BC 2/1/23. The closures: Eagle, Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security.
Through 7/31/23, the closures protect golden eagle nesting territory. Happy Hour, Bihedral & Riviera will remain open as long as visitors stay out of the closed areas.
The Boulder Ranger District with BCC monitors nesting progress & informs climbers re: giving eagles space to raise young.
Fed. & state laws prohibit disturbing any nesting bird of prey. Visitors help protect wildlife by respecting closures. Signs are posted at key access pts into the closed areas. Closure info: fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/eagles.
K. Armstrong, Public Affairs Specialist, Nat'l Forest Service: as of 6/8/21: BC areas reopen after unsuccessful nesting.
K. Armstrong, NF Ranger 7/29/20: following a 5 mo. closure to protect nesting eagles, the Roosevelt NF reopened Eagle Rock.
“The BC eagles successfully raised 1 strong & healthy eaglet this year,” wildlife biologist Aurelia DeNasha, USDA FS. “2 chicks hatched initially, only 1 survived to fledge, which isn’t uncommon in birds of prey.”
Visits to the nest did not reveal the exact cause of death of the 2nd chick, but climber cooperation with closures are crucial to the eagles.
“Golden eagle pairs are most susceptible to disturbance when choosing a nest. These closures allow the birds to pick the best site for survival without impact of other factors, such as human presence. Once chosen, nest sites stays closed until the eagles fledge in late July,” said DeNasha.
After the eagles’ site selection was made, unused areas opened in Apr.
The annual nesting closures include popular rock climbing spots at Eagle, Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security.
Through 7/31/20, the closures protect a long-established golden eagle nesting territory. Happy Hour, Bihedral & Riviera remain open as long as visitors stay out of the closed areas.
It is against federal & state law to disturb any nesting bird of prey. Only employees, volunteers, & wildlife professionals under an agreement with the FS enter nesting areas for monitoring purposes. This is for the integrity of nest & the safety of the eagles, those conducting surveys, & the public. Visitors help protect wildlife by respecting all closures & leaving immediately if you should accidentally enter one.
For the most current closure information, check signs in the areas, call the Boulder Ranger District office @ 303-541-2500, or visit local climbing websites or fs.usda.gov/recmain/arp/rec….
4/21/20, Blob Rock, East Blob Rock, Bitty Buttress, & Security Risk are open. Eagle Rock stays closed until 7/31/2020 confirmed with Matt Henry, Rec Prog Mgr, FS.
K. Armstrong, FS Pub Aff, katherine.armstrong@usda.gov, 970-222-7607: 3/20/19, Blob, East Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security are open. Eagle stays closed to climbing & other activities through 7/31/19.
See - fs.usda.gov/recmain/arp/rec….
Perennial notice:
Eagle, Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security will close 2/1 - 7/31 for nesting. Depending on updated information, the closure time can be shortened/lengthened.
Each year, BC raptor nesting area closures are in effect starting 2/1 through 7/31 at Eagle, Security, Blob, & Bitty Buttress. The area is monitored & closures are periodically lifted early (due to no active nest, nest site failure, or early fledging). This monitoring program is a partnership with the FS Boulder Ranger District, BCC, & Audubon Society. Check back periodically during times of closure for updates. More info at fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/rec….
Access Issue: Blob Rock, East Blob reopened from raptor nesting 4/21/26
Details
The USFS closed Blob Rock & East Blob for raptor nesting through 7/31/26.
3/14/25: Blob was reopened.
Seasonal restrictions in Boulder Canyon to protect nesting birds of prey
Boulder, Colo. (2/1/24) – to protect nesting golden eagles, the U.S. Forest Service is implementing annual area closures in Boulder Canyon beginning Feb. 1, 2024. The closures include popular rock climbing spots at Eagle Rock, Blob Rock, Bitty Buttress, and Security Risk in Boulder Canyon.
From W. McCurry: as of 2/10/23 Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security Risk are open. Eagle Rock remains closed until 7/31/23. More info can be found: fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news….
Previously: per K. Reid Armstrong, Public Affairs Specialist, Arapaho & Roosevelt NFS: as of 4/15/22, Blob Rock, East Blob Rock, Bitty Buttress, and Security Risk are now open.
Eagle Rock remains closed to climbing through July 31, 2022.
Description
The Blob Rock Area has some of the finest climbing in Boulder Canyon. Located on the sunny north side of the canyon, it's a great place to climb in cooler weather. There is something for all climbers: multi-pitch trad climbs, runout face climbs, and modern sport routes.
Many of the older routes are a bit runout; they were established at a time when bolting wasn't a popular option for dealing with scary climbing. Most of the modern routes, however, have bolts where necessary to protect difficult moves.
This area is often closed for raptor nesting from February 1 through July 31. However, in 2006 the climbing ban was lifted early, and the area was reopened to climbing in early March. Signs are posted at the trailhead informing climbers of the current status of the raptor closure.
The area is composed of several formations: the main rocks are Blob Rock and East Blob; two smaller rocks are Little Blob and Small Package Block.
Blob Rock is a large and complex formation with many routes. It is the home of multi-pitch trad routes like Where Eagles Dare (10b PG-13) and On Ballet (9), bolts-plus-gear testpieces like Radlands of Infinity (13a) and Bearcat Goes to Hollywood (11d), and modern sport routes like Bolt Cola (10a) and Vasodilator (13a).
East Blob has some old, runout face climbs like A Hike With Ludwig Dude (10a R), and some well-bolted sport routes like The Young and the Rackless (9), A Hike for Y2K (11d), and The Ticket (12a).
Little Blob is a small rock below the main face of Blob Rock, and has a few more difficult sport routes like Lost and Found (12a).
Small Package Block is a small rock up and left of Blob Rock, and has a few short trad and sport routes. Wake 'n Bake (10a, sport) is a lot of fun.
Getting There
Park in a small pullout on the right, just past Cob Rock. This is about 6.7 miles up the canyon.
A trail begins from the right side of the pullout. Follow it as it zig-zags up the hill. It will take you to the base of the Main Wall of Blob Rock in about 10 or 15 minutes.
Per L Kap: see the trail beta photo. There is now a WAG bag station at the first trail split. The left fork to the main Blob Rock is much more faint than the right fork to East Blob and Bitty Butress.
A big thanks to the BCC for trail improvements and the WAG bag station!
Classic Climbing Routes at Blob Rock Area
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