Colosseum Rock Climbing

The Colosseum encompasses all the buttresses, fins and walls on the left side of the highway at just above the 4000ft mark. Climbing at the Colosseum can be very rewarding, and is a good addition to the season selection of low mountain climbing.  A somewhat new crag, with efforts starting in 2019 and reaching its peak in 2021-2022, the area now has a high enough concentration to make it a crag worth visiting. Grades here range from 5.4-5.13.

Given its elevation on the mountain, it is a fall, winter, and spring area, with the optimal season is mid Oct-late April. It gets morning sun and afternoon shade, differentiating itself from almost everything else in the lower mountain canyon. Specifically, it goes into the shade at roughly 12-1pm (with the approach going into the shade between 230-4pm depending on season).

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 an assortment of safe and surprisingly good to great routes here, with the caveat that comes with all low-mountain routes on the Lemmon.

Given that it is a somewhat new area of typical low mountain quality rock, 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. 


Special note to potential and ambitious 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. Do not compromise our climbing communities' access on the mountain!