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Elevation: 4,400 ft 1,341 m
GPS: 32.32086, -110.71077
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 7,115 total · 223/month
Shared By: 1Eric Rhicard on Apr 22, 2022 · Updates
Admins: adrian montaƱo, Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen

Description Suggest change

This area encompasses all the buttresses, fins and walls on the left side of the highway at just above the 4000ft mark. The areas are all mostly sunny in the morning and go into the shade at roughly 12-1pm (with the approach going into the shade between 230-4pm depending on season).  It is a spring, winter and fall area. At this time, the area is predominately single pitch sport routes, with a lot more potential for additional single pitch and even multi-pitch lines.  Historically, a few visits by would be first ascentionists have left a trad route here and there as well. Yet, many, after realizing how much loose and bad rock there is in some places, abandoned the idea and simply walked away. A few willing to ferret out the best rock have left growing assortment of safe and surprisingly good to great routes here, with a low-mountain caveat. The area is still under development with plans for many more routes over the next seasons. The area now has a high enough concentration to make it a crag worth visiting. Optimal season is Nov-April.

Climbing at the Colosseum can be very rewarding, and is a good addition to the season selection of low mountain climbing. However, it is a new area of typical low mountain quality rock; therefore it should not be taken lightly. The rock varies in softness from the bottom to the top of the cliff band. Climbers should expect to encounter and be prepared to deal with loose rock on any route along the band despite best efforts of the developers to optimally clean the route on the anticipated path of least resistance. Helmets should be worn at all times. The standard warnings about climbing being a dangerous activity apply here as anywhere else: climb cautiously, tap anything that looks loose, and be very careful. ā€Ø

Special note to potential developers: Caution! Be aware! While routes on walls left of the currently developed areas looks enticing, there is a very real possibility of sending loose rocks do have the all the way to the highway! Please be extremely careful and don't send any stone trundling unless you are sure there is zero chance of it hitting the highway.

Getting There Suggest change

Park on the left side of the highway above the 4000ft elevation marker if headed up mountain. You can also turn around at Crags Against Humanity, drive back down, park at the second or third spot you come to on the right depending on which spot you are climbing. Golden Wall will be third on the right (see parking instructions under that wall specificially), but the bulk of the rest of the climbing areas will be the second on the right. 

There is a cairn on the road guard post. 

Approach can take anywhere from 15-35 mins, depending on fitness and pack size. Avg probably around 25. 

Trek poles can be nice to have going up and down. 

43 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Colosseum

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 11
What's Golden
Sport 3 pitches
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 25
The Way of Water
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 16
Civil Sendgineering
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 23
Cleanse and Purge
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 6
Walking on Sunshine
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 10
Veni, Vidi, Sendi
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 6
Castellum
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 11
When In Rome
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 9
Et tu, Brute?
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 12
While Rome Burned
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 10
Romulus
Sport
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 6
Carpe Diem
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 27
Treason on the Tiber
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 6
Remus
Sport
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 8
Ebb and Flow
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
What's Golden Golden Wall
 11
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport 3 pitches
The Way of Water Aqueducts
 25
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Civil Sendgineering Aqueducts
 16
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Cleanse and Purge Aqueducts
 23
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Walking on Sunshine Promenade Wall
 6
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Veni, Vidi, Sendi Obelisk
 10
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Castellum Aqueducts
 6
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
When In Rome Pantheon
 11
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Et tu, Brute? Obelisk
 9
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
While Rome Burned Obelisk
 12
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Romulus Pantheon
 10
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Carpe Diem Obelisk
 6
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Treason on the Tiber Aqueducts
 27
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
Remus Pantheon
 6
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Ebb and Flow Aqueducts
 8
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Colosseum »

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