PRINT: Rock Climbing in The Trough, Fort Collins

The Trough

Colorado > Ft Collins > Poudre Canyon > Narrows

Access Issue: 2025 Seasonal Raptor Closures - Triple Tier, Boston Peak, Grazing Allotment Crag Details

From the NFS (2/3/25): Seasonal restrictions to protect nesting birds of prey

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Feb. 3, 2025) – To protect nesting birds of prey, the Roosevelt National Forest began implementing annual closures in several popular recreation areas within the Canyon Lakes and Boulder Ranger Districts on Feb 1, 2025.

On the Canyon Lakes Ranger District, the closure areas include Triple Tier, south of CO Highway 14; Boston Peak, north of CO Highway 14; Grazing Allotment Crag, northwest of Prairie Divide Road; and Mt. Olympus, southeast of US Highway 34. See the closure map for more details.

The Roosevelt National Forest works closely with partners like Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Boulder Climbing Community and the Northern Colorado Climbers Coalition to monitor nesting progress and inform climbers about the importance of giving raptors space to raise their young.

Federal and state laws prohibit disturbing any nesting bird of prey. Visitors can help protect wildlife by respecting all closures. Signs will be posted at key access points into the closed areas. Additional closure information is available online.

From the Canyon Lakes Ranger District Forest Service:

Fort Collins, Colo. (March 7, 2024) – to protect nesting birds of prey, the U.S. Forest Service is implementing annual area closures in several popular recreation areas throughout the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. The closures include Triple Tier, south of CO Highway 14; Boston Peak, north of CO Highway 14; Grazing Allotment Crag, northwest of Prairie Divide Road; and Mt. Olympus, southeast of US Highway 34. See the closure map for more details. Effective through July 31, 2024, the closures protect established raptor territories to ensure the birds remain undisturbed during sensitive breeding and nesting seasons.

The Canyon Lakes Ranger District partners with Colorado Parks & Wildlife and the Northern Colorado Climbers Coalition to monitor nesting progress and to inform climbers about the importance of giving raptors space to raise their young.

Federal and state laws prohibit disturbing any nesting bird of prey. Visitors can help protect wildlife by respecting all closures. Signs will be posted at key access points into the closed areas. Additional closure information is available online.

A map: fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO….

Additional information: fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO….

Description

The Trough is a steep, primarily west-facing wall on the north side of CO Highway 14 directly across the road from mile marker 103. It keeps morning shade until late morning in the summer, gets some afternoon sun in the fall/winter, and has an extremely short approach. There are at least 7 bolted climbs on this wall, with the four older (uphill) routes another testament to the vision and energy of Craig Luebben. The rock is fairly typical of the Poudre, meaning that it usually climbs a bit better than it first appears.

Getting There

From the intersection of US Highway 287 and CO Highway 14, take CO 14 west for about 30 minutes. The Trough is at the lower end of the upper narrows, and appears just after rounding its first bend - look for a traffic sign on the right (visible in the picture) and the green mile marker on the opposite side. There is a spacious parking area just past this on the right, with the crag visible behind you a few dozen paces back down the road towards the east. When you leave, it is far better to continue west, either past the Narrows or to the small pull-out below East of Eden, to a safer turn-around spot with better views of oncoming traffic.

Routes from Left to Right

5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 11 ● High As I Wanna Be Sport, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 14 ● Life in the Trough Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b PG13 2 ● My Name is Mud Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 1 ● Dog Will Hunt Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 4 ● Black Crocus Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 3 ● Wild Rose Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 7 ● Hyssop Sport

● High As I Wanna Be

5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport, TR

● Life in the Trough

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport

● My Name is Mud

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b PG13 Sport

● Dog Will Hunt

5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport

● Black Crocus

5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport

● Wild Rose

5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport

● Hyssop

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Finding the feet on Hyssop.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Aaron Martinuzzi

Climbed here 6-Mar-2009. Rock is definitely solid, although it might not appear that way. Climbed a route following the 6th line of bolts up the gully (Hyssop being the first route). Face holds and a ledge-y system yielded one star, 5.10a climbing. Mar 8, 2009

Michael Botkin
Fort Collins, CO

Climbed here for the first time this week, and although everything appears to be choss, the quality isn't half bad if you're looking for a few shaded routes if Snake Eyes Wall is full. According to the guidebook, the routes starting from the road going up the gully are as follows:

1. Hyssop, *, 11b, 6 bolts.
2. Wild Rose, *, 11c, 6 bolts.
3. Black Crocus, *, 11c, 5 bolts.
4. Dog Will Hunt, 11d, 1 bolt.
5. My Name is Mud, 10d, 4 bolts.
6. Life In The Trough, ** 10a, 6 bolts.
7. High As I Wanna Be, **, 12a, 6 bolts. Jun 5, 2015

Ken Duncan
Ft Collins, CO

Don’t let your first impression dissuade you. The climbing is actually quite good, especially the left three 11s and the 12. I make a point to hit these a couple times a year. Jun 22, 2018