Clear Creek Canyon Climbing 2019-present

Route:

various

Region: Colorado

Elev: ~7,000 ft

Rock type: Gneiss, Schist, Granite

Type:

Date(s): 2019(x1 day), 2021(x1 day), 2022(x1 day)

Partner(s): Alex Ruff & Natalie Huey, Michael Underwood, Zach Durbin

Just west of Golden, Clear Creek Canyon is most known for its accessible wealth of sport climbs, with some trad climbs interspersed. The walls face all aspects, providing comfortable year-round climbing on both hot and cold days. The rock varies here from gneiss & schist to a sandy granite.

The first time I climbed at Clear Creek was in December 2019. We climbed at The Graveyard, which is a great winter crag due to its sunny aspect.

On this page, I give photos from climbing in Clear Creek Canyon, organized by date. At the bottom of the page, I keep a list of the climbs I've done in Clear Creek Canyon.

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING IN CLEAR CREEK CANYON

More climbing fun!

Date: December 1, 2019 (Sun)

Partners: Alex Ruff & Natalie Huey & Hex (woof)

Climbed at: The Graveyard

Routes:
• Bone Daddy 5.9+, sport
• Ugoogoly 5.10a, sport
• Reaper, The 5.10d, sport
• Ernest Stemmingway 5.11a, sport
• Spinal Tap 5.11d, sport
• City of the Dead 5.12a, sport

It was a sunny Sunday on the first day of December and a great time to check out another nearby winter crag. The initial plan was to climb at East Quarry Wall above the town of Golden, but when my partner Mike and I arrived at the base of the wall, we discovered that all but a few of the steeper 5.12's were streaked with water from the melting snow above the wall. So we bailed. But as we were hiking out, I ran into Natalie (who I had climbed with a few times earlier that fall) and her friend Alex. After hearing our condition report, they decided to bail on East Quarry Wall and instead head to the nearby Clear Creek Canyon. They invited us to join. Mike decided to pass, but I was happy to tag along and check out a new climbing area.

We had a fun afternoon climbing at the sunny Graveyard. With direct southern exposure and a mix of quality sport 10s, 11s, and 12s, The Graveyard makes for a popular winter crag. We climbed six routes. Below are some photos.

More climbing fun!

Date: October 13, 2021 (Wed)

Partner: Michael Underwood

Climbed at: The Crystal Tower, Primo Wall, and The Graveyard

Routes:
• Molotov Cockfight 5.9, sport
• Mineral Museum 5.9+, sport
• Mirthmobile 5.10a, sport
• Killer Pillar 5.10b, sport
• Psychedelic Mini-Fridge 5.10c, sport
• Halle Bop 5.10d, sport
• Death of Yuppies 5.10d, sport
• Shadow of Death 5.10d, sport

8 pitches from 5.9-5.10d. A fun fall day on the rock!

More climbing fun!

Date: June 30, 2022 (Thu)

Partner: Zach Durbin

Climbed at: Wall of the 90s

Routes:
• Little Kitten 5.10b, sport
• Recovery 5.10c, sport
• Leftover Stuff 5.10c, sport
• Hot Stuff 5.10c, sport
• Centerfold (both pitches) 5.10c, sport
• Reefer Madness 5.11a, sport
• Foxy 5.11a, sport
• Curvaceous 5.11b, sport

8 pitches from 5.10b-5.11b. The 5.10c pitch in the driving rain storm halfway through the day was particularly exciting, but things dried off quickly and we kept climbing for a couple of more hours. I was quite impressed with the climbing at this location. Thanks Zach for the great session on the rock.