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Elevation: 4,643 ft
GPS: 39.0805, -108.522
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Shared By: John McNamee on Mar 2, 2006 · Updates
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Description Suggest change

Grand Junction, with an approximate population of 63,000 (as of 2019), is the largest center on Colorado’s Western Slope, unofficially serving as the capital of the region. The city is named for the junction of the Gunnison River and the Colorado River (formerly known as the Grand River).

Downtown Grand Junction is a classic western town that is gradually evolving into an arts center, with galleries and antique shops. The city sits near the midpoint of a 30-mile (48 km) arcing valley known as the Grand Valley, which is a major fruit growing region and the historic home to the Ute people. In recent years, several wineries have been established in the area as well. 

The Colorado National Monument, a series of canyons and mesas similar to the Grand Canyon, overlooks the city. Interstate 70 connects the city eastward to Glenwood Springs and Denver. The Monument is a great place to hit some towers and climb some great desert cracks.

Spring and Fall are often the best times of the year to visit and climb here. Summers can be very warm and winters although mild compared to the rest of the state can be unpredictable with cold winds. 

On rest days, about 10 miles west of Grand Junction is the town of Fruita, which has some good singletrack mountain biking, both at the 18 Road Area in the North Fruita Desert and the Kokopelli Trail system above the Colorado River. It is also the starting point of the Kokopeli Trail which is a great bike-packing trip between Fruita and Moab of about 142 miles. Additional information about bike packing can be found at bikerpelli.

This area will include areas close by including DeBeque Canyon, Rattlesnake Canyon, Palisade, Unaweep, Grand Mesa, and Colorado National Monument.

Getting There Suggest change

Resources

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Climbing Shops and Guidebooks

Summit Canyon Mountaineering is located downtown and is a great source for local beta and gear. REI also has a store located east of downtown Grand Junction. Plan to visit Main Street for a great selection of local restaurants and breweries.

Guidebooks

The following guidebooks (listed below in alphabetical order) describe climbing in Grand Junction and the surrounding area. Please note that some books have several editions and others are out of print.

  • Bouldering Unaweep Canyon: Volume 1 by David Lloyd

  • Classic Desert Climbs by Fred Knapp

  • Colorado Bouldering: Mountains and Western Slope by Phillip Benningfield

  • Desert Rock: Rock Climbs in the National Parks by Eric Bjornstad

  • Desert Rock III: Moab to Colorado National Monument by Eric Bjornstad

  • Grand Junction Rock: Rock climbs of Unaweep Canyon and adjacent areas by K.C. Baum

  • Rock Climbing Colorado (Falcon Guides) by Steven M. Green

Local Climbing Organization

The Western Colorado Climbers' Coalition (WCCC) is a great resource for local information, access issues, events, updates on bolting rules etc.

Website: westernslopeclimbers.blogsp…

Facebook: facebook.com/WesternColorad…;

Instagram: instagram.com/westerncolora…;

Weather

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You can try NOAA.

3,885 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Grand Junction Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1 5
 123
The Millennium Falcon
Boulder
V5- 6C
 121
Mark of Zorro (aka Route 2)
Boulder
V6 7A
 76
Chinese Algebra
Boulder
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 149
Interiors
Trad
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 520
Otto's Route
Trad 5 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 193
Sweet Sunday Serenade
Trad 3 pitches
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 177
Key Hole
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 79
100' Hands
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 140
Willy's Hand Jive
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 134
S Crack
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 55
Questions and Answers
Trad 3 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 100
The Curve
Trad
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 63
Long Dong Wall (aka Bell Tower)
Trad 5 pitches
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 82
Rednekk Justus
Trad
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 91
Medicine Man
Trad 4 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Millennium Falcon Dynamite Shacks > Main Area > Falcon Block
 123
V1 5 Boulder
Mark of Zorro (aka Route 2) Unaweep Canyon > … > Bone Park Bould… > Plethora Boulder (Rig…
 121
V5- 6C Boulder
Chinese Algebra Unaweep Canyon > … > Mecca Area > Mecca Boulder
 76
V6 7A Boulder
Interiors Escalante Canyon > Interiors Wall Area
 149
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Otto's Route Colorado Nation… > Independence Monument
 520
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 5 pitches
Sweet Sunday Serenade Unaweep Canyon > … > Access Fund Tra… > Sunday Wall
 193
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 3 pitches
Key Hole Escalante Canyon > Interiors Wall Area
 177
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad
100' Hands Colorado Nation… > Tiara Rado
 79
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Willy's Hand Jive Escalante Canyon > Island aka Left side…
 140
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
S Crack Escalante Canyon > Cabin Wall
 134
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad
Questions and Answers Unaweep Canyon > … > Mother's Buttress > Upper Mother's Buttress
 55
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad 3 pitches
The Curve Escalante Canyon > Zappa Wall
 100
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Long Dong Wall (aka Bell To… Colorado Nation… > Kissing Couple… > Kissing Couple
 63
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad 5 pitches
Rednekk Justus Escalante Canyon > Cabin Wall
 82
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad
Medicine Man Colorado Nation… > Sentinel Spire
 91
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad 4 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Grand Junction Area »

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