Comanche Point Rock Climbing

Two alternatives exist for the approach to Comanche Point (CP), and thus for Comanche Point Pinnacle (CPP). From inside GRCA, follow the access road to the Point Sublime road (now closed to all but foot traffic). Hoof it 8 or 9 miles down the road to the approach drainage. Otherwise, drive as towards Blue Spring on FS Road 6481 (see Tomasi description for start). There is no way to describe precisely what’s in store for you on this drive, as things change all the time. Your basic goal is to get out toward Cape Solitude, so follow your intuition and the most traveled road towards Blue Spring. After 2.5 to 3 hours of 4-wheeling, as you pass Gold Peak, you will drive past a drainage that is indicated as a road on the USGS topo map (Blue Spring quad). This road no longer exists, so pass the drainage and another stone corral to the next junction. Your choice here is a right that clearly heads east towards Blue Spring, so turn left and climb yet another steep hill onto the bench. Follow this road as it heads west, and park where it begins to turn north. This is as close as you can get to CPP without violating NPS rules. Hike onto the bench and head due west until you intersect the old Point Sublime road (15 min., <1 mi). Turn south (left) and follow it through a drainage, up a bench on the other side, and until it begins to turn east and drop into the next major drainage. Leave the road and head SW into the drainage (see map). Pass a couple of corrals, then turn left at the first major fork. This drainage leads all the way to the saddle below CP, and is extraordinarily easy walking due to heavy use by elk, who have short-cut all the bends and beaten in an almost perfect trail. Stay in the main drainage for 3+ miles as it heads southwest and finally west. The drainage dies out on the flanks of CP. Climb these easy slopes to a bench, traverse below a false summit to the north (right), cross a minor gully (looking out for the skeletons of two BIG bull elk that apparently got their antlers entangled and died during rut), and climb the final slopes to the very summit and western-most point of CP. This is your gear-up spot.