All Locations > Colorado > S Platte > Cathedral Spires Area

The Dome Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in The Dome

L › R R › L A › Z

	Bishop Jaggers T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Bolts to Somewhere T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Burke Box Ball Route S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Connections T,S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Dire Straits T,S 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Dos Equis T,S 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Fuzzy Thinking T,S 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Look out, Sarah! T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Pornographic Motions T,S 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13
	PTL Club T 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a R
	Resurrection T,S 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
	Rhythm Scratch T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b R
	RU Red I T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a X
	Sea Of Holes T 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c PG13
	South Side Johnny T 5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Sposi-Isaacs Route T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R
	Topographical Oceans T 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Village People T 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
	YMCA Right Variation aka Tom's Crack Attack T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a

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Elevation:	7,712 ft	2,351 m
GPS:	39.41867, -105.26798 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	42,192 total · 149/month
Shared By:	Ray Snead on Oct 23, 2002 · Updates
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closure - at least until Aug. 15, 2025 Details

Per Josh: for the first time in at least 5 years, it appears we have nestlings at the peregrine falcon eyrie at Cathedral Spires! The breeding pair has been present and made attempts at nesting all those years but have not gotten this close to fledging a nest in that time.

Ornithologists across the Front Range have noted that migration and the onset of the avian breeding season seemed to be delayed by around 7-10 days this year, possibly because of the timing and amount of spring precipitation. The peregrines at Cathedral laid eggs later than usual. Because of that, their nestlings may not be ready to leave the nest by the time our usual seasonal closure would end, after July 31. As such, the closure this year will remain until at least August 15 (an opening of August 16). This should give the nestlings the time they need to finish development and leave the nest area.

2023 info: jeffco.us/1531/Alerts-Closures

The Cathedral Spires area, including Block Tower, Cynical Pinnacle, Snake Buttress, the Dome, Hall of Mirrors, Sunshine Wall, and Poe Buttress, are closed annually starting March 1 for raptor nesting. After careful monitoring of nest sites, Jefferson County Open Space opens certain areas of Cathedral Spires and maintain spot closures for active nests through July 31st. Check back periodically during times of closure for updates: jeffco.us/open-space/parks/…

Note, JeffCo Open Space has notified us that access to The Bishop and Poop Point (along with all the Cathedral Spires Area) currently goes across JeffCo OS land. Despite information in some guidebooks (published or soon-to-be-published), the entire Cathedral Spires area is subject raptor nesting closures. Please be aware of the hefty fines associated with failure to observe these regulations.

Access Issue: Private Property on current approach Details

Per T D: the current approach goes through private property.

Description

This is a non-descript name, but it is one of the very finest friction areas in Colorado. The routes are generally stellar, usually run out, and pure friction. This is the old school: no shiny sport bolts here. Most of the routes were put in ground up and hand drilled back in the day, so beware.

Note: Several routes have been updated recently, please see the comments below.

Getting There

Turn off US 285 at Pine Junction, and drive south about 10 miles on 126 Rd to Buffalo Creek. Go east for about 2 miles on a gravel road (96 Rd) and park in an obvious designated parking area. Hike up a washed out mining road until the crag is in sight, and look for a climber's trail leading off right and up a ridge and into a jumble of boulders. A cairn may mark the beginning of the trail. Follow the trail carefully, or you will end up thrashing around unduly in the boulders.

Per BrokenChairs 88: there is a "No Trespassing" sign on a tree up the washed out mining road, tread carefully.

Per T D: the current approach goes through private property.

19 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at The Dome

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 52 ● Bishop Jaggers Trad 4 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 17 ● Bolts to Somewhere Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 15 ● Connections Trad, Sport
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13 5 ● Pornographic Motions Trad, Sport 3 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 5 ● Dire Straits Trad, Sport 3 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 8 ● Dos Equis Trad, Sport 3 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 90 ● Topographical Oceans Trad 4 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c PG13 9 ● Sea Of Holes Trad