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Hayden Spires Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map This is our best guess at this area's location.
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Routes in Hayden Spires

	East Face of East Pinnacle T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	North Ridge of Hayden Lake Pinnacle T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	North Ridge of Hayden Spire a.k.a. The dumbest idea in the park T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R
	Northeast Ridge of Hayden Spire T 5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c
	Standard Route of Hayden Spire T 5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c

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Elevation:	11,600 ft	3,536 m
GPS:	40.3753, -105.616 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	14,189 total · 76/month
Shared By:	Bill Duncan on Jul 23, 2009
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Closures Details

Seasonal closures Feb. 15-July 31. Per the Denver Post:, the Cathedral Wall and all areas above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail are closed to off-trail travel! Per this RMNP website, "Initial closures now occur in Feb. 15 and April, when raptors return to the region and scout for nesting sites. Areas containing general habitat preferred by raptors are closed during this time. Once raptors have selected nesting spots, the initial closures are lifted or adjusted. The specific areas which raptors choose for nesting sites are closed."

For additional information about raptor closures, please visit the Rocky Mountain National Parks area closures website.

General NPS climbing regulations for RMNP posted here.

Description

The Hayden Spires are a cluster of alpine towers approximately 3 miles NW of Notchtop. There is Hayden Spire itself, which is the high point of the massif, East Pinnacle, and Hayden Lake Pinnacle. There are other smaller unnamed summits, too.

These are arguably among the most remote summits in the Park, offering decent rock with a degree of solitude. One can view this area easily from Trail Ridge Road, at the Forest Canyon overlook. The Hayden Spires are flanked by two alpine lakes, Lonesome Lake on the east side, and Hayden Lake on the west. The rock is of the standard alpine quality found in most of the Park.

Getting There

There are 3 approach options for getting to the Hayden Spires. All of them are long enough you will likely want to bivy.

1st option: approaches from Bear Lake. Hike to the top of Flattop Mountain, and then head north on the Tonahutu Creek trail for about 2 miles. Then when the trail begins to descend to the northwest, head north on Bighorn Flats to Sprague Pass and then Sprague Mountain. If you seek routes on the southeast or east side of the massif, traverse to the east side of Sprague mtn. where there is a small pass, and descend to Lonesome Lake. About 8 miles, 4,000 vertical.

2nd option: Begin at the Fern Lake trailhead, and hike to Spruce Lake. Head NW from Spruce Lake and then west up Spruce Canyon to Sprague Pass. This route is a bit shorter, but has more vertical gain. Also, you have no trail once you leave Spruce Lake, but the solitude and terrain are very nice. 6.5 miles to Sprague Pass.

3rd option: approach from Milner Pass along the Divide. At least 8 miles.