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A-7 Boulder Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in A-7 Boulder

L › R R › L A › Z

	A7 -V1 V1-2 5
	Captain Hook V9 7C
	Face Full of Brian V8 7B
	Too Rare to Die V2 5+ R

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Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	6,483 ft	1,976 m
GPS:	39.9889, -105.29091 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	15,597 total · 150/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 A-7 Boulder is a high traffic boulder and has three distinct problems, with A-7, V1 getting constant action.

The landings are flat, and the problems are well worth your time.

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 (itn 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. Follow the trail uphill and past The Stardust Boulder on your right. Continue past The Stardust Boulder, and soon The Girlfriend Boulder will be on your left. Continue just past The Girlfriend Boulder, and the A-7 Boulder will be on your left.

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 boulder field, 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 the base of the Second Flatiron is taking the trail to your right. Take the trail uphill past The Wave Boulder, and The Stardust Boulder will be on your right. Continue past The Stardust Boulder, and soon The Girlfriend Boulder will be on your left. Continue just past The Girlfriend Boulder, and the A-7 Boulder will be on your left.

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.