Alderfer/Three Sisters Park Bouldering
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Elevation: | 7,531 ft | 2,295 m |
GPS: |
39.6243, -105.34628 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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Page Views: | 678,803 total · 3,365/month | |
Shared By: | Andy Librande on Mar 16, 2008 | |
Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Access Issue: West side of park complete closure information
Details
jeffco.us/980/Alderfer-Thre….
CLOSED: Forestry Closure Update - FULL WEST SIDE CLOSURE begins 12/11.
The west side of the park will be completely closed for forest health mitigation until further notice (~mid-2024, weather-dependent). The west trailhead parking lot will remain open for access to the south. Trails impacted by closure: Mountain Muhly Trail, Bearberry Trail, Homestead Trail, Silver Fox Trail, Ponderosa Trail, and the majority of Sisters Trail. 2023 ALD Forestry - a map of the Second Segment Closure (PDF) can be found through the link above.
The eastern side of the park and trailhead have reopened following completed forestry work in that area.
CLOSED: Forestry Closure Update - FULL WEST SIDE CLOSURE begins 12/11.
The west side of the park will be completely closed for forest health mitigation until further notice (~mid-2024, weather-dependent). The west trailhead parking lot will remain open for access to the south. Trails impacted by closure: Mountain Muhly Trail, Bearberry Trail, Homestead Trail, Silver Fox Trail, Ponderosa Trail, and the majority of Sisters Trail. 2023 ALD Forestry - a map of the Second Segment Closure (PDF) can be found through the link above.
The eastern side of the park and trailhead have reopened following completed forestry work in that area.
Description
The Alderfer/ Three Sisters Park is part of Jefferson County Open Space and is home to some quality bouldering in a very beautiful setting. The area is situated in a well-covered pine forest and is home to a lot of wildlife that like to stroll through the area. Besides having some excellent granite quartz blocks to work on, the park also has some great hiking, mountain biking, and sightseeing opportunities. While the ease of access makes it prime for bouldering, it does bring out a lot of crowds to the trails; however, as far as bouldering goes it remains a relatively quite area. It is helpful to pick-up a map at the trailheads as the area is overrun with numerous trails and can be confusing if not paying close attention.
Hopefully many more areas and obscure problems will be added to these pages as the development opportunities seem to be great.
Link to the parks website: jeffco.us/openspace/openspa…
Link to the parks map: jeffco.us/jeffco/openspace_…
Colorado Bouldering 2 by Philip Benningfield and Bouldering Colorado by Bob Horan are a good starting place, however only offer a minimal amount of information compared to what has been uploaded to Mountain Project.
NOTE: climbing of any sort is not allowed in the neighboring Dedisse Denver Mountain Park located NW of Three Sisters.
Hopefully many more areas and obscure problems will be added to these pages as the development opportunities seem to be great.
Link to the parks website: jeffco.us/openspace/openspa…
Link to the parks map: jeffco.us/jeffco/openspace_…
Colorado Bouldering 2 by Philip Benningfield and Bouldering Colorado by Bob Horan are a good starting place, however only offer a minimal amount of information compared to what has been uploaded to Mountain Project.
NOTE: climbing of any sort is not allowed in the neighboring Dedisse Denver Mountain Park located NW of Three Sisters.
Getting There
From Denver Area: take the city of Morrison exit (off of C-470) and follow CO Highway 74 until the city of Evergreen. Once you reach the downtown district in Evergreen look for a stoplight at the end of the shopping strip and take a slight left onto CO Highway 73. Take CO Hwy 73 for a little less then a half-mile then take a right at another stoplight at Buffalo Park Road, take this (heading more west) onto the weird turnoff. Follow this road pass a school and you will come across the Park.
The first parking lot on the right accesses several areas including the Eggs, Energy Crag, Work and Play Area, Brother's Wall, and others. However the first parking lot is most likely full on busy weekends and hiking from the other lot will take about 10-15 mins extra.
The second lot is much larger and is in the open field. Park here for all areas around Gilligan's island, Pirate Cove, and several other smaller areas.
Note that it is only a 10 minute hike from parking lot to parking lot and that you can access any area in the park relatively easy from either lot if you just hike a few extra minutes (usually on flat trails).
Drive time is 20-25 minutes from Morrison.
The first parking lot on the right accesses several areas including the Eggs, Energy Crag, Work and Play Area, Brother's Wall, and others. However the first parking lot is most likely full on busy weekends and hiking from the other lot will take about 10-15 mins extra.
The second lot is much larger and is in the open field. Park here for all areas around Gilligan's island, Pirate Cove, and several other smaller areas.
Note that it is only a 10 minute hike from parking lot to parking lot and that you can access any area in the park relatively easy from either lot if you just hike a few extra minutes (usually on flat trails).
Drive time is 20-25 minutes from Morrison.
Suggestions for New Visitors
Three Sisters is essentially broken into two areas which are the East Section and the West Section. It may appear on a map that these areas are spread-out, however everything is much closer to each other then you realize.
The East section you would park in the first small lot. Parking fills up quick on weekends (hiker's MTB's). Most boulders are in a shady pine forest. First time visitors would want to check out:
--- The Eggs (very easy to find, mix of easy to hard problems)
--- Work and Play Area (great mix of moderates)
--- Brother's Lookout (for more HB and harder climbs)
--- Energy Crag and the Pass are really good but much harder to locate. Other Areas offer variety but the above three are the gems.
The West section you would park in the large lot in the open field. Much better landscape views from here and a number of boulders tend to be in direct sunlight. First time visitors will want to check out:
--- Gilligan's Island is the large rock mass in the middle of the field and has quality easy and moderate problems around the base
--- Pirate's Cove right next to Gilligan's is a great overhung piece of rock
--- Tortuga houses several hard classics and variety across a much larger area.
The East section you would park in the first small lot. Parking fills up quick on weekends (hiker's MTB's). Most boulders are in a shady pine forest. First time visitors would want to check out:
--- The Eggs (very easy to find, mix of easy to hard problems)
--- Work and Play Area (great mix of moderates)
--- Brother's Lookout (for more HB and harder climbs)
--- Energy Crag and the Pass are really good but much harder to locate. Other Areas offer variety but the above three are the gems.
The West section you would park in the large lot in the open field. Much better landscape views from here and a number of boulders tend to be in direct sunlight. First time visitors will want to check out:
--- Gilligan's Island is the large rock mass in the middle of the field and has quality easy and moderate problems around the base
--- Pirate's Cove right next to Gilligan's is a great overhung piece of rock
--- Tortuga houses several hard classics and variety across a much larger area.
Classic Climbing Routes at Alderfer/Three Sisters Park
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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