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Badger Flats Rock Climbing
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| Elevation: | 9,200 ft | 2,804 m |
| GPS: |
39.1005, -105.52328 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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| Page Views: | 80,595 total · 885/month | |
| Shared By: | Arlo F Niederer on Jun 20, 2017 | |
| Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Description
Badger Flats is located about an hour west of Colorado Springs and northwest of Lake George. It is about a 30 minute drive from Eleven Mile Canyon if you need a break from the canyon.
Due to the elevation, the best season is similar to Eleven Mile Canyon - summer and fall, but winter and spring on south-facing rock with decent weather.
The rock consists of Pikes Peak Granite and pegmatite of variable quality, similar to other South Platte rock. However, most of the rock is good quality and some is excellent. It varies from smooth and fine grained to covered with chickenheads.
The area has sport, trad, and mixed climbing routes. Although there has been climbing in the area for decades, most of the sport routes have modern 3/8" bolts and anchors at the top.
Protection is from bolts, cracks, and slinging chickenheads.
There are two major formations - Valley of the Chickens and Feral Petunia. Valley of the Chickens consists of five areas - The Egg, Going Away Party, Chicken Rock, Rooster Tail, and Left Wing (from East to West walking along the base).
Feral Petunia consists of four areas - West Feral, Annual Bonus, East Feral, and Upper Feral (from West to East).
There is primitive camping close to the base of both of the formations.
The only published guidebook is a pamphlet by Bob and Carrie Robertson in 2015. The nomenclature here is consistent with their pamphlet to facilitate sharing of information about this area.
Due to the elevation, the best season is similar to Eleven Mile Canyon - summer and fall, but winter and spring on south-facing rock with decent weather.
The rock consists of Pikes Peak Granite and pegmatite of variable quality, similar to other South Platte rock. However, most of the rock is good quality and some is excellent. It varies from smooth and fine grained to covered with chickenheads.
The area has sport, trad, and mixed climbing routes. Although there has been climbing in the area for decades, most of the sport routes have modern 3/8" bolts and anchors at the top.
Protection is from bolts, cracks, and slinging chickenheads.
There are two major formations - Valley of the Chickens and Feral Petunia. Valley of the Chickens consists of five areas - The Egg, Going Away Party, Chicken Rock, Rooster Tail, and Left Wing (from East to West walking along the base).
Feral Petunia consists of four areas - West Feral, Annual Bonus, East Feral, and Upper Feral (from West to East).
There is primitive camping close to the base of both of the formations.
The only published guidebook is a pamphlet by Bob and Carrie Robertson in 2015. The nomenclature here is consistent with their pamphlet to facilitate sharing of information about this area.
Getting There
There are numerous roads in the area, but the major ones are labeled - either with a Park County sign or the flexible Forest Service vertical fiberglass poles.
To get to Valley of the Chickens From Colorado Springs, take US Hwy. 24 west to Woodland Park, Florissant, and Lake George about 29 miles. Proceed about 6 3/4 miles past Lake George to Park County 31 on the right. The turnoff is a little past the Round Mountain Campground and between mile posts 258 and 259.
Turn right (north) on Park County 31 and go north about 5 miles to FR 44 on the left. The road is usually well maintained and similar to the road in Eleven Mile Canyon. Turn left on FR 44 (La Salle Pass Rd. Note that on Google maps this road is labeled 46).
Go about a mile to where the road "spiderwebs" into 3 roads. Take the middle road, FR 227, which is marked with a flexible, vertical Forest Service marker. The road roughly parallels a power line heading west. Also, the cliff is visible from here, so that helps to find the cliff.
Proceed along this road until it forks and turn right to head to the cliff. Turn left on the second side road which heads towards the cliff.
It is possible to park east of the formation in an open area and follow a faint trail along the base of the cliff to the various rocks. Alternatively, drive farther in and park in the trees and take a trail directly up to Chicken Rock.
Both of the approaches are only 5-10 minutes.
To get to Feral Petunia from Lake George, go about a mile to Park County 77, and turn right (north) toward Tarryall. Park County 31 will be on the left about 12-13 miles from Lake George.
Turn left on Park County 31, and head southwest about 1/2 mile to FR 231. Turn right on 231 for about a mile. Turn right on 231B, and follow it until the cliff is visible. FR 231B forms a loop to the north off of FR 231. There are side roads leading up to the cliff - which one you choose depends on which area you plan to climb on.
The approach is 10 to 15 minutes.
To help with the directions, it is useful to look at Google Maps with the satellite image turned on. Depending on the cell service provider, data coverage may or may not be available.
Valley of Chickens location: 39.101375 -105.519190.
Feral Petunia location: 39.108629 -105.502184.
To get to Valley of the Chickens From Colorado Springs, take US Hwy. 24 west to Woodland Park, Florissant, and Lake George about 29 miles. Proceed about 6 3/4 miles past Lake George to Park County 31 on the right. The turnoff is a little past the Round Mountain Campground and between mile posts 258 and 259.
Turn right (north) on Park County 31 and go north about 5 miles to FR 44 on the left. The road is usually well maintained and similar to the road in Eleven Mile Canyon. Turn left on FR 44 (La Salle Pass Rd. Note that on Google maps this road is labeled 46).
Go about a mile to where the road "spiderwebs" into 3 roads. Take the middle road, FR 227, which is marked with a flexible, vertical Forest Service marker. The road roughly parallels a power line heading west. Also, the cliff is visible from here, so that helps to find the cliff.
Proceed along this road until it forks and turn right to head to the cliff. Turn left on the second side road which heads towards the cliff.
It is possible to park east of the formation in an open area and follow a faint trail along the base of the cliff to the various rocks. Alternatively, drive farther in and park in the trees and take a trail directly up to Chicken Rock.
Both of the approaches are only 5-10 minutes.
To get to Feral Petunia from Lake George, go about a mile to Park County 77, and turn right (north) toward Tarryall. Park County 31 will be on the left about 12-13 miles from Lake George.
Turn left on Park County 31, and head southwest about 1/2 mile to FR 231. Turn right on 231 for about a mile. Turn right on 231B, and follow it until the cliff is visible. FR 231B forms a loop to the north off of FR 231. There are side roads leading up to the cliff - which one you choose depends on which area you plan to climb on.
The approach is 10 to 15 minutes.
To help with the directions, it is useful to look at Google Maps with the satellite image turned on. Depending on the cell service provider, data coverage may or may not be available.
Valley of Chickens location: 39.101375 -105.519190.
Feral Petunia location: 39.108629 -105.502184.
Classic Climbing Routes at Badger Flats
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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