The Wind Tunnel Rock Climbing

From Mall Road in Estes Park, drive 4.2 miles down the Big Thompson Canyon, and park in a large pullout on the South side of the road. If coming from Loveland, this pullout is at the end of the long, 2-lane, West-bound passing zone between Drake and Estes Park, 14.0 miles from the Dam Store.

From the pullout, walk a couple hundred meters downcanyon to the base of an obvious drainage coming down from the South side of the canyon. Head up its left side, following a trail up steepening terrain until you come across an impressive boulder in the drainage. Go around the boulder to its left, then follow the trail/drainage a short distance further to a cairn. At this point, cross the drainage to the right (West), and head steeply up the hill, perpendicular to the drainage. Continue in this trajectory for 10 minutes or so, until you reach a rounded, wooded “ridge”. (At a few points during this ascent, you can view the crags over your left shoulder to the Southeast.) From here, turn South (left), and follow the rounded, indistinct ridge up low angle terrain, weaving around boulders and small ledges, but trying to stay generally at the high point of the very rounded ridge. After 15 minutes or so, you will reach a flat area where the ridge-feature ends and you’ll begin hiking East (turning left) in order to surmount the final hill up to the crags. This hill is also littered with boulders and ledges and requires some patience in finding the good line. We’ve cairned it fairly well, but it’s not a finished project. You will be deposited onto a relatively flat, beautiful “meadow” at the top of the hill, and Conehead will rise up to your left. This is the South face of that crag, containing the previously mentioned pitches. Continue hiking East past this crag, and go around its corner, turning North (left), and the Wind Tunnel is in view. The hike takes between 25 and 45 minutes, depending on how much you’re carrying and how lost you get. It’s pretty casual once you get it sorted.