Most overrated climbing areas and most underrated climbing areas in front range?

Mountain project stars and average ratings can be misleading and skewed from place to place.  As far as overall quality of routes goes, where do you think are some of the most overrated climbing areas in the front range, and what are the most underrated climbing areas in the front range?

Seems a little mean spirited of a thread, no?

I’d have to say that the harrowing multi-pitch classic, “Edge of Time” is underrated af. The bivy on pitch 21 is unforgettable, and the A6+ hooking crux is more fun than expected, just don’t fall. Get on it.

^ gonna have to go +1 on the Edge of Time for the most underrated epic Big Wall of the Front Range, or perhaps...the World! One minor correction: according to Jim Beyer himself, the hooking crux is actually A6c+, which makes it probably one of the more difficult A6 pitches in Colorado. Honestly the figure-4 backstepping move on the 17th pitch is the most memorable...but don't let me spoil it for you - go get on it! 

Overrated - CCC

Underrated - NTM

Jonah Swrote:

Seems a little mean spirited of a thread, no?

Is finding out the underrated areas “nice spirited”?  Do crags have feelings?

Cory Nwrote:

Overrated - CCC

Underrated - NTM

lol

Kevin Swrote:

Is finding out the underrated areas “nice spirited”?  Do crags have feelings?

1. Yes

2. I think Eldo does.

See ya out there Kevin!

If Eldo has 1 million haters, I am one of them. If Eldo has 1 hater, I am that 1. If eldo has no haters, then I am dead. If the world is for Eldo, then I am against the world.

South platte is in contention for not just most underrated climbing area in CO but for most underrated climbing area in the US

Tal, pretty much every time you sound off about the quality of the South Platte as an under-rated climbing area, it reminds me of this story.  

Eldo has so many self-proclaimed haters and climbers who otherwise feel the need to publicly put it in its place that I would argue it's gone from overrated to underrated!

I would have to say that the most under rated climb in Colorado in the famous Granite big wall known as The Edge of Time.

Strictly speaking, for sport climbing areas:

Overrated: Boulder Canyon
Underrated: The Flatiorns 

Charles Vernonwrote:

Eldo has so many self-proclaimed haters and climbers who otherwise feel the need to publicly put it in its place that I would argue it's gone from overrated to underrated!

I first visited Eldo 20 years ago and thought it was middling at best. 3 years after moving here, I still haven’t roped up there, so you may be right!

Flatirons are definitely the most underrated.

Not in the front range but close enough, Vedawoo sucks, like a lot. Can't understand why it gets so much love when it's mostly short, grungy routes with annoying descents 

I’ll put in a vote for Poudre canyon being underrated -  long pitches, low crowds, and good views 

Cory Nwrote:

Overrated - CCC

Underrated - NTM

How do I downvote a post?

Not a lot of people have heard of this one, which is surprising given its status as “The Diamond” of Colorado. My most underrated climbs is in a town called Estes Park, where a true backcountry bigwall experience exists on a legendary route called The Edge of Time. I don’t want to spoil it too much, as it is still very possible to have a wall experience not unlike the early pioneers on El Cap in the 60’s. But to keep everyone safe in case they wish to step into the void so-to-speak, you will encounter some real deal A6+ hooking up there and will be setting up your ledge on some marginal piton belays (if you can even make it to the piton bivy before nightfall). On my first attempt I tried fix-and-firing with an alpine start and still came up short of that first bivy FWIW.

Overrated I’ll go with anything in the greater Front Range area. World class access to choss.

Does anyone on here have any info on whether or not The Edge of Time is the only Grade VII in the state?

For overrated my vote is Turkey Rocks. The anchor situation is extra lame.

For underrated, wherever it is I am sending at the time. 

Recently visited Turkey Rocks for the first time after hearing for nearly 15 years that it's "THE place to go in Colorado for crack climbing and preparing for Yosemite". Found it to be a lovely camping area, and certainly a dense abundance of cracks to climb, but the overall experience relative to the "YOSEMITE SIMULATOR!" hype I'd heard was underwhelming. I haven't done a geological assessment or anything, but it definitely feels to me like the water carved granite crack climbing all throughout Boulder Canyon is a much better Yosemite granite simulator than the more pegmatite-y outcropping granite of Turkey Rocks.

I guess maybe I'd heard that hype when I was living down in Colorado Springs, though? And Turkey Rocks was more "local" than BoCan?

Was also surprised to find an entire frickin' neighborhood under active construction on the south side of the crag. Lovely campsites on the north side but the sawing and hammering noises and worrying that I was shouting "PLEASE TAKE, I'M SO SCARED!" down into peoples backyards was a bit off-putting.

----

As for Eldo hate - I feel like I've heard people explain why they 'don't like' Eldo (chossy, confusing ethics, overcrowded, the corner gas station on 93 charging $7.50 a gallon...), but I'm still struggling to understand why there's a contingency of Eldo "haters". 

Anyone have some insight to offer on the "hate"? Is it the rock quality? The crowds? The summer heat? The confusing mix of "old school" and "new school" ethics?

It's not my favorite place in the world to climb, but it is a stunningly gorgeous canyon, a vast playground, and when I was a young 5.11 gym climber with 5.13 alpine aspirations and new to leading on gear outside, leading the Rewritten traverse pitch was literally the coolest "adventure" thing I felt I had done in my life, up to that point. Man... the elation and the weight of memories...

Doctor Chosswrote:

Overrated I’ll go with anything in the greater Front Range area. World class access to choss.

Yep nothin but choss, everyone should climb somewhere else!