Winter Rock Climbing Areas in Western Colorado

Winter Rock Climbing in Western Colorado

Every year the sun gets lower in the sky, the temps drop and most folks in the valley switch over to winter sports. Skiing, snowboarding, and for the demented few, ice climbing, replaces our climbing ambitions until the warmer days of spring find us back out on the rocks. But not everyone embraces these winter sports, and often folks wonder how can you make it through the winter here if you only want to climb. As strange as it seems, there is some pretty good and reliable winter climbing in our area, as long as it's not snowing. The following should get you pointed in the right direction.

The Puoux
It always boggles my mind to see people climbing here in the summer, don't they know it's a winter area? With a low elevation and good sun exposure until the afternoon, this is a good spot to get in a couple pitches on nice winter days. As long as you don't mind climbing next to I-70, that is. Dave Pegg's excellent guidebook Western Sloper has all the info you'll need.

Rifle Arch
This area sees a lot of sun and as such makes for warm climbing. It also doesn't see as much snow given its lower elevation. Just remember its sandstone, so give it a day or so after a big storm. More info about Rifle Arch can be found here.

Main Elk
You've got several good options here. The Pup Tent offers short routes of all grades in a sunny alcove. The main wall along Main Elk Creek offer stouter challenges including one of the best 5.13a's in the state (according to Dave Pegg). Or if you are feeling feisty you can hoof it all the way up to the Fortress of Solitude and get your groove on with some of the hardest routes in the country.

New Castle Boulders
This small collection of sandstone blocks outside the town of New Castle is usually sunny and warm. The rock is an excellent sandstone and the problems are good. You can get more information in the Colorado Bouldering Guidebook.

Other Areas
A little farther away you can usually find good conditions in Unaweep for sandstone bouldering and sometimes the granite is good too. Colorado National Monument and Escalante Canyon are good desert climbing areas without the crowds of the Creek.