PRINT: Rock Climbing in Out West Crag, Lumpy Ridge

Out West Crag

Colorado > Estes Park Valley > Lumpy Ridge

Access Issue: 2023 Seasonal Raptor Closures lifted 7/28/23 Details

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

This is another small crag located at the Eastern end of Lumpy Ridge. It lies relatively close to the trail to Gem Lake. It has at least four routes, Raw Hide, 5.11a; Small Caliber, 5.10c; Hanging Tree, 5.10d; and Rough & Ready, 5.9+. Raw Hide, on the narrow East Face draws your eye as you hike past it. The other routes are located on the North face and are easily visible from the Gem Lake Trail.

Getting There

Hike from the new trailhead north towards Gem Lake. Go right at the T intersection. When you see Crescent Wall about 1 1/4 miles in, you may notice a small outcropping of fins located just left (North). This is Fin City. Out West Crag is located about 100 yards further North.

The approach to reach this crag found by continuing past the Common Courtesy Crag, past the point where the trail comes closest to Crescent Wall, to where there are a set of 4-6 tighter switchbacks about 1/4 mi further from Common Courtesy Crag. Here you will see the N face of Out West Crag about 200 yards from the trail. Find a faint path towards the E end of Out West Crag.

Routes from Left to Right

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 1 ● Mission Creep Trad 2 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 1 ● Bush Doctrine AKA Cowboy Diplomacy Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 2 ● Hanging Tree Trad
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c 1 ● Rawhide Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b R 1 ● Rough & Ready Trad 2 pitches