Good climbing area for the youngins?

The descents of many of the easy routes in the amphitheater are walk offs or involve very minor (for adults) scrambling. It is very easy to setup a top rope with gear on them without leading them first. There is an eyebolt above the routes of the west bench but I would back it up with kids climbing just in case. The 3rd pinnacle would be an all gear/sling anchor and I used to set them up without cams when I didn't own any. The easy routes are all short enough to lower with a 60m rope as far as I remember.

Hey Count, the Boulderado is a tad sketchy, but not to the extent that you won't want to go. I would not leave kids under age 10 (in general) to their own devices while setting up the top rope, but there is room for them to sit, stand and move around a tad at the base. While anyone is climbing you would feel more comfortable if they were each anchored, but you could use a longer tether for this. Its not a "belay stance" like you'd find on a multipitch climb, it's more like a sidewalk with a 15 to 20 foot drop to the road.

I'd agree with Mike on that...plus there are alot of people, ropes coming down etc. I'd advise against it just to be safe.

Great info guys...thanks!

Bill, I did not include the Flatirons because the routes I have climbed all have a fairly long approach. I've been told since of other climbs with very short approaches, so I'll check them out for the next edition.
Enjoy your trip!

I love taking my kids to camp Hale between Leadville, and Vail. Nice safe area, TR bolts for several routes, and routes you can do in your Teva's. Plus the camping isn't too bad.

If you want a nice road trip destination check out Maple Canyon in Utah, something for everyone 5.4 and up. Good camping, easy access to routes, just a bit of drive for you, but worth the effort.

COsnowman...PM sent.

I have a 7 year old girl, and I'd love to get her started with some other kids around her own age- her interest in climbing comes and goes. She's climbed a little indoors, and outside seems to overwhelm her a bit. Maybe we should see about getting together with kids?

Flagstaff Mountain has many more easily accessible, shorter, TR-able formations than anywhere else I can think of. Not to mention hundreds of boulder problems...

I've been thinking of taking my son up the Freeway on the 2nd flatiron. 5.0. Plus I could solo next to him while a friend belayed. Just an idea.

If you're up for heading down to the Springs, my daughter liked this route: mountainproject.com/v/color…
It's a 5.5 and not always juggy but its fairly low angle and she first climbed it at about the time she turned 5. Short approach with a wide open belay stance on the ground. The challenge (at least for us) with little ones was she didn't want to sit back on the rope to lower so it was a slow process - who blames her, it's not exactly natural.
Another bonus is that there's a 5.6 right next to it that shares the first couple of bolts. Take a 60m rope if you go.

Wow...the great suggestions just keep rollin' in!

Only challenge with the Flatiron climbs is that many of the 5.easy routes are multi-pitch...making it difficult to rig anchors for a simple TR. My kids are nowhere near ready for multi-pitch.

I had no idea about RRCOS! I might have to take the fam down there to check it out.

If you do head down to RRCOS you'll need to stop by the Garden of the Gods visitor center for climbing permits as the same permit is required at RRCOS. The permit is free and it is good for the calendar year but supposedly the fines for climbing without one are pretty hefty. They also require a chalk substitute. If you're into guidebooks you should be able to pick up Stewart Greene's book at the visitor center as well.

+1 on RRCOS. but don't tell everybody :)

So I noticed that Steve Levin's new Eldo guidebook has an entry for the west side of Supremacy Rock where there are a couple Class 4 "routes" that are supposedly perfect for young kids? I might go up and check these out this weekend. In the meantime, anyone have any experience with their own kids there?

The West side of Supremacy has a very kid friendly wall with zero approach time. Very light kids are hard to lower due to the angle. Sometimes there are crowds from CMS or CMC.

The north side has some good routes in the .6 - .9 range, and everything is TR friendly, although you might have to extend 20 feet or so.

I've been here with kids. Yes, biggest problem is lowering, but you can keep em on a rope and let em down climb that way, too.