Elevation: 9,707 ft
GPS: 39.1198, -106.69987
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Page Views: 117,953 total · 877/month
Shared By: Alvaro Arnal on May 21, 2012
Admins: Alvaro Arnal, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
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Description

One of the mainstays of Independence Pass climbing, the Grotto Walls area offers the greatest variety of climbing on the Pass from the convenience of the Lower Grotto Wall to the more wild setting of the Third Grotto Wall. Climbing here is split pretty evenly between sport and trad. There is some great bouldering as well in the scree fields below the cliffs.

Getting There

Drive up Independence Pass from Aspen about 9 miles. Come around a left hairpin turn and pull into the large pull-off on the left side of the road. Lower Grotto Wall is the large cliff just above the road. There will usually be a party on Twin Cracks and Cryogenics, and one to multiple cars with tourists pulled over watching the "crazy climbers".

74 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Grotto Walls Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V2 5+
 15
● Doberman Dihedral
Boulder
World of Hurt B… > Husky Boulder
V5 6C
 15
● Husky
Boulder
World of Hurt B… > Husky Boulder
V6 7A
 22
● Felix
Boulder
World of Hurt B… > Felix Boulder
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 153
● Twin Cracks
Trad
Lower Grotto Wall
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 38
● Grotto Wall Traverse
Trad 3 pitches
Lower Grotto Wall
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 25
● Plaque Right
Trad
Second Grotto Wall
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 8
● Inner Worlds
Trad 2 pitches
Third Grotto Wall
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 154
● Cryogenics
Trad 2 pitches
Lower Grotto Wall
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 82
● One for the Road
Sport
Lower Grotto Wall
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 38
● Under Pressure
Sport
Lower Grotto Wall
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 9
● The Zebra
Sport
Second Grotto Wall
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 15
● Victims of Fashion
Trad, Sport 3 pitches
Lower Grotto Wall
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
● Tarzan
Sport 2 pitches
Lower Grotto Wall
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 9
● Scene of the Crime
Sport
Lower Grotto Wall
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a
 5
● Before There Were Nine
Sport
Lower Grotto Wall
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Doberman Dihedral World of Hurt B… > Husky Boulder
 15
V2 5+ Boulder
● Husky World of Hurt B… > Husky Boulder
 15
V5 6C Boulder
● Felix World of Hurt B… > Felix Boulder
 22
V6 7A Boulder
● Twin Cracks Lower Grotto Wall
 153
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Grotto Wall Traverse Lower Grotto Wall
 38
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 3 pitches
● Plaque Right Second Grotto Wall
 25
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
● Inner Worlds Third Grotto Wall
 8
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 2 pitches
● Cryogenics Lower Grotto Wall
 154
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad 2 pitches
● One for the Road Lower Grotto Wall
 82
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Under Pressure Lower Grotto Wall
 38
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● The Zebra Second Grotto Wall
 9
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
● Victims of Fashion Lower Grotto Wall
 15
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Trad, Sport 3 pitches
● Tarzan Lower Grotto Wall
 4
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport 2 pitches
● Scene of the Crime Lower Grotto Wall
 9
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
● Before There Were Nine Lower Grotto Wall
 5
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Grotto Walls Area »

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