PRINT: Rock Climb Colossus, City of Rocks

Colossus

5.10c, Sport, 80 ft (24 m),

Avg: 3.5 from 701 votes
FA: R. Hong, M. Fischer, Pampe, Miles, Lightner, 1988
Idaho > S Idaho > City of Rocks > Bath Rock > Bath Rock - West

Access Issue: (1) Weather Wall, Yellow Wall, & all the crags north of Twin Sisters are CLOSED. (2) No trash cans. (3) Highlining temporary ban in place for CIRO and CRSP Details

(1) The area, crags, and routes just north of the Twin Sisters are on private land and the landowner recently posted no trespassing notices at the gated road/trail to the area. Any access of these areas and routes is trespassing. The area was closed by the landowner due to trespassing, illegal camping, fires & trash, and disregard of owner's privacy.
Please be respectful of the land owner's wishes and do not climb or hike here until further notice. This includes White Lightning, Skinner Roof, Weather Wall, Yellow Wall, Larry's Annihilation, Needle Rock, Mississippi Fred's, and Secret Tom's. Park officials and CRAG are working to regain access to this valuable climbing resource. Be patient and check back for updates.
(2) No trash cans anywhere in City of Rocks: urlzs.com/c4eZH
(3) HIGHLINING IS PROHIBITED
By the authority of the park manager, Highlining at City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park is temporarily prohibited as of August 28, 2019.

The park(s) is reviewing highlining activities. Here are Google Drive links to the closure and the updated Code of Regulations for CIRO. drive.google.com/open?id=1y… and drive.google.com/open?id=1Y…

Description

This is the most popular line on the back side of Bath. Start just right of Private Idaho. The climb trends left through a low roof. The crux is pulling left through the large hueco at about 60ft.

Protection

9 bolts to chain anchors

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Sunset climbing on "Colossus, 5.10c, at City of Rocks, ID in July 2006. Photo by Bill Geist.

Colossus, 10c, 9 bolts

Bryan Tikalsky on Colossus

Corey Trudel on a sunset cruise up Colossus.

Pulling the exposed and awesome crux move onto the face.

Epic

Brian is at the upper crux, after pulling out of the massive hueco...

about to exit the cave

Crux pullin'

Paul Hutton above the low roof on his onsight.

Fun climbing through the crux

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

ROC
Denver, CO

Great climb!!! Definately one of the must do's for any City trip. The crux is exposed but short. Decent clip off the hueco. Clip that bolt and go for it!! 2 to 3 hard pulls puts you on the big ledge. The moves are well protected so don't even think of taking, just do it!!! Aug 18, 2004

Nathan Fisher
St George

5.10c

9 bolts on route to the anchors. This is THE face route of it's grade for me, so far at the city. Very exposed crux as you undercling that oh so hollow sounding flake. Then the next 4 or so moves don't let up. Very committing, and I mean VERY committing. Sep 5, 2005

John Bradford
Yellowstone National Park

5.10c

One of the best at the City, a great pull over the roof, and an exciting finish. Every move is a lot of fun. Oct 8, 2005

Xover
C-Dub Hts, UT

Some ok-fun moves and exposed at the crux, but the greasiness has truly detracted from this climb over time. I personally wouldn't recommend it to anyone; there are alot better similar face climbs of equal grade in the City. Sep 11, 2006

Guy H.
Fort Collins CO

5.10c

The holds under the first roof are getting very polished from the heavy traffic on this route. Sep 20, 2006

426	[Hide Comment] Excellent stuff! Mar 21, 2007

Tony B
Around Boulder, CO

5.10c

Great route and honest at the grade, unless you are short. The crux is a reach that will probably get very hard (dynamic) below 5'7" in height.
Lots of chalk leads up and right away from the crux and into a large hueco off route, which is fine for a rest, but you can't get back on from there wthout climbing back down. May 1, 2007

susan peplow
Joshua Tree

5.10c

Two previous trips to the City and all we did was drive past Bath Rock thinking it was shite. This year we head over one morning and jump on this route as our first route of the day. What Fun! The start is a bit sloper and gets you thinking you may have bitten off more than you can chew but are welcomed by a second bolt and bigger holds. The mid portion of the route is easy chicken heads that goes at about 5.8 then things start to get vertical again. Unlike what Tony said, I didn't find the hueco to be off route. I used the large hueco as a side pull for my right and moved my feet up allowing me to clip the next bolt. The business doesn't stop there....a few more moves including getting your feet on a sloping ledge before getting to the chain anchors.

Very fun - 9 bolts + chain anchors.

Susan Aug 14, 2007

Tony B
Around Boulder, CO

5.10c

Standing in the hueco is going off route because you have to reverse it just to get back to where you were to continue. That seems like it's off of the line to me. But I never said you wouldn't grab a flake on the upper left edge of it with your right hand for a side-pull or under-cling, so I don't think we disagree. Aug 15, 2007

Ben2
Bend, OR

5.10c

I found the crux very doable but a little reachy for persons at the extreme height of 5'4" or below. My beta: find some good "nothings" for your feet, trust them and go. Some fun, somewhat powerful moves on this route. Aug 24, 2008

jeffozozo
santa clara, utah

5.10c

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the "roll onto the ledge" mantel just after the hueco undercling/layback...

This is a very cool climb. Sep 25, 2012

Tyson Waldron
Reno, NV

I live for trad climbing and this still stood out to me as the best climb we did at the City. The features, the exposure, and the movement on this one are just too cool for school. Sep 24, 2013

Daniel Nelson
Jackson, WY

Very Do-able 10c - IMO 3 powerful 10c moves and the rest is cruiser. Tricky getting to the bolt under the crux, but then well protected fantastic finish. I'd Stick clip the first bolt unless very comfortable on polished slab. Oct 29, 2013

Dr. Long Arm

5.10c

Awesome climb! Especially at night after a beer. Bring your headlamp! Jul 10, 2015

Teton Tony
Boise

Nice heel hook up high for the clip May 27, 2018

Chelsea Wood
St. George, UT

5.10c

Excellent, one of the classics and worth doing (though count on a line)! 9 bolts to chain anchors. 2 obvious cruxes. Jun 18, 2018

Nate Liles
Lander, WY

Replaced anchor w 1/2" ss + mussy hooks in 2019. In cooperation with the NPS, Climbing Resource Advisory Group (CRAG) and the ASCA. Support from Maxim Ropes and the Access Fund, all hardware courtesy of the ASCA. Consider a donation @ safeclimbing.org Sep 10, 2019