COLORADO

Climbing Trip Reports

table of contents

This page provides links to my growing list of climbing trip reports in Colorado, including climbs in Rocky Mountain National Park, Indian Peaks, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado National Monument, South Platte, Paradox Valley, Estes Park area, Crestones, and more. In July 2018, I spent the entire month of July in Colorado climbing. At the beginning of the trip, I was considering CU Boulder as a potential grad school option; by the end of my trip, I had decided it was the only place I cared to go. I began a PhD program in Applied Mathematics at CU Boulder in Fall 2019. In July 2022, I began working as a Monitoring & Data Analyst for LongPath Technologies based in Boulder, Colorado. Taking advantage of the remote nature of my work, I moved to Estes Park in March 2023, pursuing my dream of owning a small home nestled against the mountains. So there will be lots of Colorado climbing in my future!

You can access the trip reports by clicking on the interactive map below or scrolling to the list below that.

Trip Report Navigation Option 1: 

Clickable Map

Click on the locations on the map to go to a trip report.

New version using Google maps:
Icon key:
Technical summit
Nontechncal summit
Cragging
Hike
Lookout
Lake
Bike trip
Kayak trip
Aerial photography
Photography
Old versions using Photoshop (still updated, but no longer clickable; broken into four maps instead of one): 
Not Cragging (+Area specific maps for Rocky Mountain National Park and Indian Peaks Wilderness)Yellow=Climb (Not cragging)    Pink=Multi-Day or Multi-Peak Expedition    Blue=Hike/Snowshoe/Scramble   Green=Cragging (single-pitch)    Lighter Green="Multi-pitch Cragging" 
All Colorado
RMNP
Indian Peaks
Cragging (+Area specific map for Estes Park Area cragging)Green=Cragging (single-pitch)    Lighter Green="Multi-pitch Cragging"
All Colorado
Estes Park area
Snowshoe (and Winter Hiking) Adventures in Rocky Mountain National Park and Indian Peaks Wilderness
Map of 125 Named Summits and 135 Named Lakes in RMNP
Trip Report Navigation Option 2: 

Alphabetical List by Area

Click on the dated links in the right column to go to a trip report.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Map of Black Canyon from Black Canyon page.
Click here to open larger image file.
Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
North Rim
Climb

THE ARETES 

(North Rim: SOB Gully)
Climb

CHECKERBOARD WALL 

(North Rim: Cruise Gully)
Climb

COMIC RELIEF BUTTRESS 

(North Rim: SOB Gully)
Climb

GUPPY AMPHITHEATER / BUTTRESS 

(North Rim: Guppy Gully)
Climb

MAIN GULLY

(North Rim: SOB Gully)
Climb

NORTH CHASM VIEW WALL 

(North Rim: Cruise Gully)
Climb

PRACTICE WALL 

(North Rim: Prisoner of Your Hairdoo Gully)
South Rim
Climb

ALIMONY WALL 

(South Rim: SOFB Gully area)
Climb

BLACKJACK TERRACE 

(South Rim: Chillumstone Gully)

Boulder Area

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

BOULDER CANYON CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch and Multi-pitch

ELDORADO CANYON CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch and Multi-pitch

FLATIRONS CLIMBING

Carbondale Area

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Cragging: Single-pitch

FRYING PAN CLIMBING

Colorado National Monument

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Climb

INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT

Climb

SENTINEL SPIRE

Crestones

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Climb

CRESTONE NEEDLE

Estes Park Area (not in RMNP)

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

CASTLE ROCK CLIMBING

Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

COMBAT ROCK CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch

COTTONTAIL CRAG

Cragging: Single-pitch and Multi-pitch

THE CRAGS CLIMBING

Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

CROSIER MOUNTAIN CRAGS CLIMBING

Early spring hike

CROSIER MOUNTAIN

Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

IRONCLADS CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch

JURASSIC PARK CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch

KENNY MOUNTAIN CRAGS CLIMBING

Spring hike/winter hike

LILY MOUNTAIN

Cragging: Multi-pitch

MARY'S BUST CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch

THE MONASTERY

Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

PALISADE MOUNTAIN CRAGS CLIMBING 

Cragging: Single-pitch

PERFORMANCE PARK

Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

ST. VRAIN CANYON CLIMBING

Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

THUMB & NEEDLE CLIMBING

Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

WINDOW ROCK CLIMBING

Flat Tops Wilderness

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Overnight backpack

DEVIL'S CAUSEWAY

Fort Collins Area

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Cragging: Mostly single-pitch

POUDRE CANYON CLIMBING

Front Range Mountains: Non-RMNP, Non-Indian Peaks

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Overnight + summit

CASCADE MOUNTAIN, NEVER SUMMERS

Climb

MT. EVANS: THE APRONS

Climb

MT. EVANS: THE BLACK WALL

Cragging: Single-pitch

MT. EVANS: LINCOLN LAKE SLABS

Winter hike

JAMES PEAK

Golden Area

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Cragging: Single-pitch

CLEAR CREEK CANYON CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch

GOLDEN GATE CANYON STATE PARK CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch

NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Scramble

HIGH DUNE & STAR DUNE

 Front Range Mountains: Indian Peaks Wilderness

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Spring scramble

ARAPAHO PEAKS (NORTH & SOUTH)

Winter hike/snowshoe

MT. AUDUBON

Late fall hike/snowshoe

BLUE LAKE

Climb

LONE EAGLE PEAK

Winter hike/snowshoe

LAKE ISABELLE

Multi-peak traverse

LITTLE PAWNEE PEAK

One summit of the Little Pawnee-Pawnee-Toll Loop (~10 miles, 4000 ft gain/loss, 4th)
Winter hike/snowshoe

MEADOW MOUNTAIN

(summit on boundary of RMNP and Indian Peaks Wilderness)
Summer scramble

NAVAJO PEAK

Multi-peak traverse

PAWNEE PEAK

One summit of the Little Pawnee-Pawnee-Toll Loop (~10 miles, 4000 ft gain/loss, 4th)
Spring hike/snowshoe

SAWTOOTH MOUNTAIN

Summer scramble

SHOSHONI PEAK

Winter hike/snowshoe

SKYSCRAPER RESERVOIR

Early spring hike/snowshoe

ST. VRAIN MOUNTAIN

(summit on boundary of RMNP and Indian Peaks Wilderness)
Multi-peak traverse

MOUNT TOLL

One summit of the Little Pawnee-Pawnee-Toll Loop (~10 miles, 4000 ft gain/loss, 4th)
 Multi-Peak Expeditions in Indian Peaks
Multi-peak traverse

LITTLE PAWNEE-PAWNEE-TOLL LOOP

Paradox Valley Area

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Cragging: Single-and Multi-pitch

PARADOX VALLEY AREA CLIMBING

1-3. Nov'21

2, 4. Mar'22

Rifle

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Cragging: Single-pitch

RIFLE CLIMBING

Front Range Mountains: Rocky Mountain National Park

Map of RMNP climbing areas I created as I was planning my 2018 climbing trip to the area.
Click here to open larger image file.
Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
(Alpine) Climbs (5th class or WI) in RMNP
Climb

AIGUILLE DE FLEUR

Climb

MT. ALICE

Climb

ARROWHEAD

Climb

ASTRO TOWER (HALF MTN)

1-2. Jun'21

3. Jul'21

Climb

CATHEDRAL WALL

Climb

CHASM VIEW WALL

Climb

CHIEFS HEAD PEAK


3-4. Go to "Hikes/Snowshoes/Scrambles" section for a couple of less technical ways I have reached the summit of Chiefs Head.
Climb

THE DIAMOND (LONGS PEAK)


(also see LONGS PEAK for more 5th class ascents of Longs Peak)
Climb

HALLETT PEAK


7-8. Go to "Hikes/Snowshoes/Scrambles" section for a couple of less technical ways I have reached the summit of Hallett.
Climb

KEYBOARD OF THE WINDS: DARK TOWER (TOWER THREE)

Climb (Summer)& Winter Climb

LONGS PEAK 

(also see THE DIAMOND for more 5th class ascents of Longs Peak)

5-10. Go to "Hikes/Snowshoes/Scrambles" section for a couple of less technical ways I have reached the summit of Longs.
Climb

LOWER EAST FACE LONGS PEAK

Climb

UPPER EAST FACE LONGS PEAK

Climb

MCHENRYS PEAK


2-3. Go to "Hikes/Snowshoes/Scrambles" section for a couple of less technical ways I have reached the summit of McHenrys.
Climb

MT. MEEKER


4-5. Go to "Hikes/Snowshoes/Scrambles" section for a couple of less technical ways I have reached the summit of Meeker.
Climb

MUMMY MOUNTAIN


2-3. Go to "Hikes/Snowshoes/Scrambles" section for a couple of less technical ways I have reached the summit of Mummy.
Climb

NOTCHTOP MOUNTAIN

Climb&Multi-day/peak backpack

PAGODA MOUNTAIN

One summit along the way on "A Walk in the Park" (~15 miles, rock up to 5.4, 13 hours car to car)
One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
Climb

PETIT GREPON

Climb

RAIN DELAY CRAG

Climb

THE SABER

Climb

THE SHARKSTOOTH

Climb

SHIP'S PROW

Climb

THE SPEARHEAD

Climb

YPSILON MOUNTAIN


2. Go to "Hikes/Snowshoes/Scrambles" section for a less technical way I have reached the summit of Ypsilon.
Climb

ZOWIE TOWER (OTIS PEAK CRAGS)

Cragging (Multi- and Single-Pitch) in RMNP
Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

CASTLE ROCK CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch

COTTONTAIL CRAG

Cragging: Multi-pitch

DEER RIDGE BUTTRESS

Cragging: Single-pitch and Multi-pitch

LOST WORLD

1-3. Jun'23

Cragging: Multi-pitch

LUMPY RIDGE

BATMAN PINNACLE

BATMAN ROCK

THE BOOK

THE BOOKEND

THE BOOKMARK / BOOKMARK PINNACLE

CHECKERBOARD ROCK

CHRISTMAS CRAG

THE CITADEL

CRESCENT WALL

GOLLUM'S ARCH ROCK

LEFT BOOK

LIGHTNING ROCK

LITTLE TWIN OWLS

OBSERVATORY DOME

THE PEAR

SUNDANCE BUTTRESS

SUNSHINE BUTTRESS

THUNDER BUTTRESS

TWIN OWLS

Cragging: Multi-pitch

MACGREGOR SLAB

Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

ROCK OF AGES

Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

WINDOW ROCK CLIMBING

Cragging: Multi-pitch

UNNAMED LOCATIONS

 Hikes/snowshoes/scrambles (2nd-4th) in RMNP
Winter hike/snowshoe

ANDREWS GLACIER & TARN

Winter snowshoe

BATTLE MOUNTAIN

Winter hike/snowshoe

BIERSTADT & SPRAGUE LAKES

Winter /early spring hike/snowshoe

BLUEBIRD LAKE

Winter/early spring/ fall hike/snowshoe

CHASM LAKE

Multi-day/peak backpack

CHIEF CHELEY

One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
Multi-peak traverse&Multi-day/peak backpack

CHIEFS HEAD PEAK

One summit along the way on "A Walk in the Park" (~15 miles, rock up to 5.4, 13 hours car to car)
One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
3-4. Go to "Alpine Climbs" section for a couple of 5th class routes I have climbed on Chiefs Head.
Multi-day/peak backpack

THE CLEAVER

One summit along the way on a "Wild Basin High Route" (~22 miles, 2.5 days, 4 summits and 6 alpine lakes, up to 3rd class)
Winter hike/snowshoe

CUB LAKE

Winter hike/snowshoe

DEER MOUNTAIN

 Multi-day/peak backpack

THE ELECTRODE

One summit along the way on a "Never Summers Overnight 2021" (~20 miles, 1.5 days, 3 summits, up to 3rd class)
Winter/fall/early spring hike/snowshoe

EMERALD LAKE (& DREAM LAKE & NYMPH LAKE)

Winter hike/snowshoe

ESTES CONE

Multi-day/peak backpack

FAIRCHILD MOUNTAIN

One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
Winter hike/snowshoe

FERN LAKE

Winter/spring hike/snowshoe

FLATTOP MOUNTAIN

One summit of the Otis-Hallett-Flattop Loop (~12.1 miles, 4000 ft gain/loss, 6 hours car to car)
Spring scramble

GABLETOP MOUNTAIN

Multi-day/peak backpack

HAGUES PEAK

One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
Multi-peak traverse

HALF MOUNTAIN

One summit along the way on "A Walk in the Park" (~15 miles, rock up to 5.4, 13 hours car to car)
Winter/ fall hike/ snowshoe

LAKE HAIYAHA

Winter/spring hike/snowshoe

HALLETT PEAK

One summit of the Otis-Hallett-Flattop Loop (~12.1 miles, 4000 ft gain/loss, 6 hours car to car)
3-8. Go to "Alpine Climbs" section for some 5th class routes I have climbed on Hallett.
Winter hike/snowshoe

LAKE HELENE (& TWO RIVERS LAKE)

Hike& Multi-day/peak backpack

MT. IDA

One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
Multi-day backpack

MT. IKOKO

Summit on "Mirror Lake Overnight" (~26 miles, 3.5 days)
Multi-day/peak backpack

ISOLATION PEAK

One summit along the way on a "Wild Basin High Route" (~22 miles, 2.5 days, 4 summits and 6 alpine lakes, up to 3rd class)
Early spring snowshoe

POOL OF JADE (& EMERALD LAKE & DREAM LAKE & NYMPH LAKE)

Spring scramble

KNOBTOP MOUNTAIN

Winter/early spring scramble/snowshoe

MT. LADY WASHINGTON

Winter hike/snowshoe

LAWN LAKE


2. Go to "Multi Day/Peak Expeditions" section for an overnight camping+climbing trip to Lawn Lake
 Summer scramble&  Early spring snow climb& Multi-peak traverse&Multi-day/peak backpack

LONGS PEAK 

One summit along the way on "A Walk in the Park" (~15 miles, rock up to 5.4, 13 hours car to car)
One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
7-10. Go to "Alpine Climbs" section for some 5th class routes I have climbed to get to the summit of Longs.
Multi-day backpack

LOST LAKE

Early spring hike & Winter snowshoe

LUMPY LOOP (& GEM LAKE)

Multi-peak traverse&Multi-day/peak backpack

MCHENRYS PEAK

One summit along the way on "A Walk in the Park" (~15 miles, rock up to 5.4, 13 hours car to car)
One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
Winter hike/snowshoe

MEADOW MOUNTAIN

(summit on boundary of RMNP and Indian Peaks Wilderness)
Summer scramble&Multi-day/peak backpack

MT. MEEKER

One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
3-4. Go to "Alpine Climbs" section for a couple of 5th class routes I have climbed on Meeker.
 Summer scramble&Multi-day/peak backpack

MUMMY MOUNTAIN

One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
3. Go to "Alpine Climbs" section for a 5th class route I have climbed on Mummy.
Multi-day/peak backpack

OGALALLA PEAK

One summit along the way on a "Wild Basin High Route" (~22 miles, 2.5 days, 4 summits and 6 alpine lakes, up to 3rd class)
Early summer scramble & Winter snowshoe

MT. ORTON

Winter/springhike/snowshoe

OTIS PEAK

One summit of the Otis-Hallett-Flattop Loop (~12.1 miles, 4000 ft gain/loss, 6 hours car to car)
Early spring hike/snowshoe

OUZEL LAKE

Multi-day/peak backpack

OUZEL PEAK

One summit along the way on a "Wild Basin High Route" (~22 miles, 2.5 days, 4 summits and 6 alpine lakes, up to 3rd class)
Multi-peak traverse&Multi-day/peak backpack

POWELL PEAK

One summit along the way on "A Walk in the Park" (~15 miles, rock up to 5.4, 13 hours car to car)
One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
Winter  hike/snowshoe

PTARMIGAN POINT

Multi-day/peak backpack

MT. RICHTHOFEN

One summit along the way on a "Never Summers Overnight 2021" (~20 miles, 1.5 days, 3 summits, up to 3rd class)
Early spring hike/snowshoe

ST. VRAIN MOUNTAIN

(summit on boundary of RMNP and Indian Peaks Wilderness)
Winter/early spring/early summer hike

SANDBEACH LAKE

Winter hike/snowshoe&Overnight hike

SHELF & SOLITUDE LAKES (& MILLS LAKE, JEWEL LAKE)

Winter hike/ snowshoe

SOUTH SIGNAL MOUNTAIN & SIGNAL MOUNTAIN

(South Signal on boundary of RMNP)
Winter/early spring/fall hike/snowshoe

SKY POND (& LAKE OF GLASS & THE LOCH)

Winter hike/snowshoe

SPECTACLE LAKES (& YPSILON LAKE)

Multi-day/peak backpack

SPRAGUE MOUNTAIN

One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
Multi-day/peak backpack

STATIC PEAK

One summit along the way on a "Never Summers Overnight 2021" (~20 miles, 1.5 days, 3 summits, up to 3rd class)
Multi-peak traverse

STORM PEAK

One summit along the way on "A Walk in the Park" (~15 miles, rock up to 5.4, 13 hours car to car)
Multi-day/peak backpack

THE STONEMAN

One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
Multi-day/peak backpack

TAYLOR PEAK

One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
Multi-peak traverse&Early Spring hike/snowshoe

THATCHTOP MOUNTAIN

One summit along the way on "A Walk in the Park" (~15 miles, rock up to 5.4, 13 hours car to car)

3. Go to "Multi Day/Peak Expeditions" section for a summer ascent of Thathtop.
Autumn overnight

TIMBER LAKE

Winter snowshoe

TRAIL RIDGE ROAD

Summer hike/winter hike/snowshoe

TWIN SISTERS PEAK

Winter hike/snowshoe

UPPER GLACIER GORGE (& MILLS, JEWEL, BLACK, BLUE, GREEN, ITALY, FROZEN LAKES)

Multi-day/peak backpack

YPSILON MOUNTAIN

One summit along the way on the "Estes Skyline High Route" (~50 miles, rock up to 5.4, 3.5 days)
2. Go to "Alpine Climbs" section for a 5th class route I have climbed on Ypsilon.
 Multi-Day/Peak Expeditions in RMNP
Multi-peak traverse

"A WALK IN THE PARK" TRAVERSE (AKA "THE GREAT WHEEL")

Multi-day/peak backpack

"ESTES SKYLINE HIGH ROUTE"

Multi-day/peak trip

LAWN LAKE OVERNIGHT


2. Go to "Hikes/Snowshoes/Scrambles" section for a winter snowshoe to Lawn Lake.
Multi-day backpack

LOST LAKE OVERNIGHT

Multi-day backpack

MIRROR LAKE (+MT. IKOKO) OVERNIGHT

Multi-day/peakbackpack

NEVER SUMMERS OVERNIGHT 2021

Multi-peak traverse

OTIS-HALLETT-FLATTOP LOOP

Multi-day/peak backpack

"WILD BASIN HIGH ROUTE"

Canon City Area

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Cragging:Single-pitch

SHELF ROAD CLIMBING

South Platte

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Cragging
Cragging: Multi-pitch

CATHEDRAL SPIRES CLIMBING

THE BISHOP

BLOCK TOWER

CYNICAL PINNACLE

SUNSHINE WALL

Cragging: Single-pitch and Multi-pitch

DEVIL'S HEAD CLIMBING

Cragging: mostly Single-pitch

ELEVENMILE CANYON CLIMBING

Cragging: Multi-pitch

SHEEP NOSE CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch

STAUNTON STATE PARK CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch

THUNDER RIDGE CLIMBING

Cragging: Single-pitch and Multi-pitch

TURKEY ROCKS CLIMBING

Backpacking
Multi-day backpack

LOST CREEK WILDERNESS LOOP

Unaweep

Type of Trip
Summit/Area
Route
Date/Link
Cragging: Single-pitch and Multi-pitch

MAIN CANYON