5 Reasons We Love Colorado Rock Climbing

Our shortlist of why rock climbing in Colorado is so cool!

Cranking hard in Eldorado Canyon

We absolutely love Colorado and the endless outdoor opportunities it has to offer. The Rocky Mountains, high desert plateaus, and ancient limestone deposits hold more than a lifetime of some of the best rock climbing in the world. If you haven’t rock climbed in Colorado, here’s your sign to to start planning a trip!

These are some of the biggest reasons why we love climbing in the Colorado mountains:

1) There is a huge variety of rock in Colorado

All three major rock types (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic) can be found throughout Colorado. Grand Junction is home to sweeping sandstone and granite canyons while Rifle Mountain Park boasts some of the absolute best limestone sport climbing in Colorado. And, the Denver area has it all…sandstone bouldering, sport climbing on bullet-hard gneiss, and huge mountains made of granite. With so many different types of rock in Colorado, you could spend a lifetime trying to climb it all.

Climbing awesome red sandstone in the Boulder Flatirons

2) You can rock climb year round

Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine a year…let’s use them all and go climbing! Whether it’s spring, summer, or winter, you can definitely find rock climbing in Colorado that suites the temperature. Many crags are great places to soak up the sun in the dead of winter, or escape the intense summer heat. You can even take a short drive and generally find warmer or cooler temps more suited towards your preference. For example, North Table Mountain near Denver is a great wintertime crag, but is generally too hot to climb at during the summer.

Alpine rock climbing in November – mountaineering boots required!

3) A huge variety of scenery

Why do we rock climb? The views of course! Rock climbing in Colorado is a fantastic way to see incredible views. Many crags like Clear Creek Canyon sit right on the bank of river. It’s great to enjoy the sound of water while climbing a few pitches after work. Maybe you want more mountainous views? Rocky Mountain National Park has you covered! Enjoy the desert? Then check out Colorado National Monument or Escalante Canyon!

Just another fall day in Clear Creek Canyon!

4) Short drives to the crag from all major Colorado cities

Colorado is a pretty cool state…there are tons of rock climbing destinations within an hours drive from all the major Colorado cities. It’s great to go climbing in wild and remote places during the day and be back in town to enjoy the nightlife!

Thanks to Mountain Project for this great map

5) Access to highly trained and certified guides

Colorado is home to some big mountains and there are many quality guiding services that can help you achieve your dreams. All this to say finding a climbing guide in Colorado is pretty easy. We guide in many locations across Colorado and offer 100% customizable climbing trips specifically catered towards your goals and abilities. Give us a shout if you have questions or want more information on any of our trips!

A snowy day high in the Colorado Mountains

There you have it! Colorado is a climbing mecca. With so many different areas to rock climb in, you could climb a lifetime here and not see it all!