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The Wave Boulder Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in The Wave Boulder

L › R R › L A › Z

	Angular Momentum V1 5
	Catching Waves V5 6C
	High Frequency V0 4
	Low Frequency V0 4
	Making Waves V4 6B
	Midrange V1 5
	Riding the Wave V0 4
	Wave Overhang V0 4
	Wave Traverse, The V1 5

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Elevation:	6,401 ft	1,951 m
GPS:	39.98934, -105.29047 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	10,090 total · 97/month
Shared By:	David Tennant on May 14, 2016
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: 2024 Crag Closures & Temporary Trail and Raptor Closures Details

The usual crags are closed for climbing for raptor nesting:

See: bouldercolorado.gov/service….

Click here for the trail closures. Some are M-F, some are 24/7. These impact the Bear Canyon/Fern Canyon regions primarily:

flatironsclimbing.org/tempo…

Click here bouldercolorado.gov/service… for the latest in raptor closures.

Description

The Wave Boulder is a long boulder (~40 feet) which resembles its name and has a range of problems from quite easy to quite difficult, increasing with difficulty the further right you go along the boulder.

Most of the landings are quite safe and flat but are also on the trail which heads up The BBC Boulder. So be considerate with passing hikers and other climbers who may need to pass.

Getting There

There are two main options to getting to the Satellites, both of which start at the Chautauqua Trailhead. Park there or along Baseline Road, and start up the wide Chautauqua Trail. Take the trail into the treeline, over a small wooden bridge, past a large boulder, and then to the next intersection of trails (intersects the Bluebell Baird Trail). From here, you have two options:

Option 1: most direct, more crowds, and more strenuous. Take the 1st/2nd Flatiron trail which is the trail that goes uphill immediately at a diagonal left at the intersection (not the leftmost, the center-left option is the one you want). Take this uphill and stay left at the next fork. This will spit you out at the base of the Second Flatiron.

From here, follow the trail heading east away from the Second Flatiron. You'll see The Wave Boulder on your right with a trail going uphill. You've arrived.

Option 2: less direct, less crowds, and less strenuous. Take a left (the leftmost option) onto the Bluebell Baird Trail. From here, stay right at every trail intersection. This will take you past the Bluebell Shelter on your left and take you across a wooden walk bridge. The last intersection is for the Royal Arch Trail (which goes left), take the trail to the right to continue to the Satellite area. This will take you up a switchback, across a small boulderfield, and then the first boulder you'll arrive to is the Sputnik Boulder.

From here, continue along the trail which goes behind the Sputnik Boulder and then winds up to a trail intersection. The Wave Boulder is now immediately on your left, and access to the base of the Second Flatiron is taking the trail to your right. If you find yourself at the base of the Second Flatiron, you passed it, turn back around and you'll most definitely see it going back.

There is a

on the main Satellites page with a trail map of both options and mileage.

I personally take Option 2, 80% of the time, as it gives you a break from walking straight uphill the whole time, and you get to get off the main trail that all the tourists are on for a more peaceful experience.