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Wax Museum

Colorado > Steamboat Springs

Description

Wax Museum is a large chunk of quartzite rock perched above the Spring Creek Trail between the top two bridges. It has fun climbing on slab, edges, and overlaps. There are newer routes that are still cleaning up. It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring a brush. As of July 2019, there are six routes with plenty of room for more.

Getting There

Drive north out of Steamboat towards Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Turn right onto Buffalo Pass road, and drive about three miles to the Dry Lake parking area on the right. Walk down the Spring Creek trail. After crossing the first bridge and a couple hundred yards before reaching the second bridge, look for a climber's trail on the left. This trail is steep in places but fairly easy to follow (marked with blue survey tape). This trail brings you right to the toe of the buttress. It takes about 30 minutes.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 9
● Wax On, Wax Off
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 3
● Rope Gun
Sport
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 3
● Moose Wallow
Sport
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 4
● Carnuba
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 4
● Wax Chandelier
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 4
● Silver Lining
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 5
● M.O.M.
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 6
● Pandemic Development
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 9
● Floor Wax
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 8
● Madame Tussaud's
Sport
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 9
● First Black One
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 13
● Para-Fin
Sport
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c R
 1
● Raspberry Ridge
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 2
● Six Feet Apart
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 9
● Social Distance
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 2
● STFH
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 1
● Snakebite Crack
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Wax On, Wax Off
 9
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
● Rope Gun
 3
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
● Moose Wallow
 3
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Sport
● Carnuba
 4
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Sport
● Wax Chandelier
 4
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Silver Lining
 4
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● M.O.M.
 5
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Pandemic Development
 6
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Floor Wax
 9
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Madame Tussaud's
 8
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● First Black One
 9
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
● Para-Fin
 13
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
● Raspberry Ridge
 1
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c R Trad
● Six Feet Apart
 2
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
● Social Distance
 9
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● STFH
 2
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
● Snakebite Crack
 1
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

This is the turnoff from Spring Creek trail to the crag trail.
[Hide Photo] This is the turnoff from Spring Creek trail to the crag trail.
The first real sight of the buttress after walking up from Spring Creek trail. The routes are around the corner to the left.
[Hide Photo] The first real sight of the buttress after walking up from Spring Creek trail. The routes are around the corner to the left.
Each route has a well established belaying area.
[Hide Photo] Each route has a well established belaying area.