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The Coliseum
Colorado
> Lyons
> St Vrain Canyons
> S Fork of St Vrain Ca…
Access Issue: MM 23-29.5 - now ended daily CO 7 highway closure/delays
Details
Per Kai Bouwman: the daily CO 7 highway closure/delay access issue is no longer a problem according to CDOT the construction finished as of Nov. 11, 2022.
From CDOT: Colorado Highway 7 is closed daily from MP 23-29.5. Motorists can only travel through the area between 6-8 am and 4-7 pm. During these timeframes, pilot cars will lead alternating one-way travel. Drivers should plan for delays, and this schedule will remain in place through Memorial Day 2022.
During the closure, motorists need to take US 36 to CO 7.
The Coliseum lies in the midst of a collection of crags referred to as The Talus Fields in Bernard Gillett's new guide. Climbs on The Coliseum itself are north-facing and lay in the shade throughout most of the day making this an excellent summer crag. Established climbs on this feature range from about 5.7 to 5.11 and contain a mixture of traditional protection and bolts. Most routes top out at about 200' and have bolted belay stations.
Although this wall contains some quality climbs, the traffic appears to be limited. This may be due to the longer approach or because of quality walls located nearer to Lyons. Despite being only a 15 to 20 min hike from the road, this wall has a more wild feel - on any one climb, you may find loose rock, lichen and bushy vegetation. But, as Gillett points out, this is just the entry fee for all new routes (most of these routes were established around 2001 and 2002).
Getting There
To get there, park at the pullout located approximately 7.9 miles from Lyons on the south side of the road. This pullout resides on a curve in the road and is 0.2 miles [up] the road from the Upper Rest Area (also located on the south side of the road). The Coliseum will not be visible from the pullout. According to Gillett, you should travel about 50 yards up the road and cross near some grey boulders, just above which will be located a cairn marking the start of a "well marked trail" that actually runs between another formation (The Arch of Titus) and The Coliseum. The well marked trail consists of downed branches forming a little path and some cairns (not entirely as obvious as the description would suggest as there are downed branches everywhere). About 200' up the trail, the trail will split - take the left branch toward the now obvious talus field across a ravine. I also found that, being a bumbler, one could also just kind of hack their way up the ravine itself after crossing the river toward the talus field. Either way, once at the base of the talus field the wall should be apparent and one can either traverse the talus itself or cross under the field to approach the wall. With the former option, keep your partners prone to trundling below you as the talus is loose and it is not unlikely that one could knock off fair size block if one is not careful.
Mountain Lion Alert
Good-sized mountain lions have been seen in the area.
[Hide Photo] In the interest of preventing erosion from 100 different "trails," there is a well-traveled, easy trail with cairns starting from this block/ramp. It's just upstream from the pullout.
[Hide Photo] The Coliseum as seen from the approach.
[Hide Photo] Coliseum from the base of Roadeo Crag.
[Hide Comment] The Coliseum would be a good area for working on hand crack skills. Hollow Man, Handcrack-a-rete, Planetary Pull, and Galdiator (to the tree) all have excellent sections of 5.7/5.8 jamming for 50-70 foot stretches.
Jul 2, 2012
[Hide Comment] Note that there is now a nicely cairned trail that skirts the right hand side of the talus field as you're going up to Coliseum. This seems much more solid than tackling the talus field head on.
Aug 6, 2012
[Hide Comment] Considering that so many people go here, I am surprised at the lack of attention/traffic at The Pantheon, the obvious 200' tall chunk of NW facing rock just uphill. Went there Sunday and had it to ourselves, linking pitches to do all the routes as single pitch trad and mixed lines. The place will clean up (lichen on a few lines) a little more with some traffic, but it is already good/worth doing. I'll put it on line over the next day or two.
Aug 5, 2013
[Hide Comment] We were up here yesterday, and a good size mountain lion wandered up the trail mid-afternoon. He/ she appeared well fed and didn't seem to think much of us, but be aware of your surroundings when in the area.
Jun 5, 2018
Loveland/Vail, CO
Loveland
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Also, I couldn't find a place to cross in high water without it.... Good luck! May 15, 2019
Boulder, CO
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Lyons