Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 9,800 ft
GPS: 39.29807, -106.47532
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 26,428 total · 229/month
Shared By: Christopher Barlow on Sep 23, 2014
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

The Timberline Lake Basin offers a wide range of alpine climbing opportunities from pleasant bouldering traverses to adventurous mountain walls and ridges. While the area has been widely explored by a dedicated corps of local climbers, much of the area still remains mostly undeveloped as of fall of 2014. A few notable exceptions are the bouldering around the Sun Deck, a terrace of short walls on the north side of Timberline Lake, and the outstanding Tiger Cliff in the bowl to Timberline's west.

The rock is generally compact granite, much of which is of a very high quality. Many of the cliffs and boulders face east and south, offering a slightly longer season than other such alpine zones. Many of the climbs could be done whenever Turquoise Lake Road is open and there is not too much unconsolidated snow on the trail up to Timberline Lake.

Getting There Suggest change

From downtown Leadville, drive west on 6th Street until it deadends into County Road 4 (also McWethy Dr. here). Follow County Road 4 further west, staying straight toward Turquoise Lake. Drive around Turquoise Lake on the south side past its extreme west end to the Timberline Lake Trailhead parking lot on the left.

Hike the Timberline Lake Trail, west again, across a large bridge. The Colorado Trail departs to the left (south). Continue uphill past a large metal barrier. After a rather pleasant 2.5 miles, gaining about 400 vertical feet, one arrives at the quite aesthetic Timberline Lake. At a moderate pace, someone who is acclimated to 10,000 feet should be able to do this part of the hike in less than an hour.

Depending on where you intend to climb, the approaches vary from Timberline Lake.

Per Dougald MacDonald: it's 3.8 miles to the Tiger Cliff from the trailhead.

14 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Timberline Lake Basin Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Timberline Lake Basin

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
More Classic Climbs in Timberline Lake Basin »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading