Shelf Road Climbing 2019-present

Shelf Road Climbing 2019-present

Route:

various

Region: Colorado
Elev: ~7,000 ft
Rock type: Limestone
Type: 
Date(s): 2019(x3 days), 2020(x5 days), 2021(x5 days), 2022(x20 days), 2025(x4 days)
Partner(s): Brad White, Nate Mankovitch, Natalie Huey, Joe Trabucco, Nate Arganbright, Shawn May

Shelf Road is a limestone sport cragging destination in south central Colorado, just north of Canon City and about 3 hours drive from Boulder. Most of the cliffs are vertical with pocketed limestone. Quality rock, short approaches, year round climbing, and a beautiful setting make this a popular weekend destination.
The first time I climbed at Shelf Road was in October 2019. I have returned several times in the falls and winters since and have really grown to enjoy the logistical ease of sport climbing and the strength-building nature of the steep limestone pocket-pulling.
On this page, I give photos from climbing at Shelf Road, organized by date. At the bottom of the page, I keep a list of the climbs I've done at Shelf Road.

Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING AT SHELF ROAD


More climbing fun!
Date: October 20, 2019 (Sun)
Partner: Brad White
Climbed at: Cactus Cliff, Spiney Ridge
Weather was looking a bit cold and windy at any location closer to Boulder, so it was a good opportunity to check out Shelf Road. Fellow math enthusiast Brad and I spent the day cragging on moderates in the sun at Cactus Cliff area. I should title this mini trip report "Finding the bolted cracks at Cactus Cliff" since that's what we seemed to climb the most of. I guess I cannot resist a crack when I see one. Overall, I found the climbing quite engaging and I enjoyed the opportunity to climb on limestone. I'll be back!

More climbing fun!
Dates: November 26-28, 2020 (Thu-Sat)
Partner: Nate Arganbright
Climbed at: Sand Gulch, The Gallery
Thanksgiving 2020 at Shelf Road! I was recovering from knee surgery and I was expecting to attempt to climb one route, have the knee feel kinda tweaky, and spend the rest of the trip belaying. But over the course of 2.5 days I ended up climbing 16 pitches on toprope, mostly 5.9-5.10 with a few of 5.11's. I was definitely far from top form as I was too cautious to do any weird movement or use small footholds with my right foot. Nice to be back on the rock though!

More climbing fun!
Dates: November 19-21, 2021 (Fri-Sun)
Partner: Nate Arganbright
Climbed at: Cactus Cliff, Sand Gulch, The Vault
It had been a year since either Nate or I had been to Shelf, so it was time to return. I took off work on Friday and we enjoyed three days of steep limestone sport climbing in the sun and three nights hanging out in Nate's cozy 10x14 Canvas tent hotel and making dinner, reading, watching episodes of Yellowstone, and munching on peanut butter M&Ms. We climbed over 20 pitches from 5.9-5.11. Hard leading by Nate. Having climbed mostly moderate routes this fall (I was recovering from Covid-19), it felt nice to get pumped and challenged. Quite an enjoyable weekend all around!

More climbing fun!
Dates: December 11&12, 2021 (Sat&Sun)
Partner: Nate Arganbright
Climbed at: The Gallery, Sand Gulch
Another fun weekend sport climbing at Shelf Road. For this trip we did more of a smash-n-grab style, driving down early Saturday morning, sleeping in the back of the truck on Saturday night, and doing a mileage day of climbing Saturday and a shorter day of harder routes on Sunday before driving back to Boulder/Estes Park by mid-afternoon. Daytime highs in the 40's and nighttime lows in the teens kept the crowds away, but it was quite pleasant climbing on the sunny rock.

More climbing fun!
Date: February 5, 2022 (Sat)
Partner: Nate Arganbright
Climbed at: Cactus Cliff
The forecast at Shelf on Saturday called for highs in the mid 40's, no wind, no clouds, and overnight lows in the teens. The forecast at home (Boulder/Estes Park) called for 55 mph winds and wind chill as low as -22°F. So it sounded like a good weekend for Shelf Road. Due to the low overnight temperatures and a slight laziness on our part, we decided to get a cheap hotel in Canon City. On Saturday we climbed 10 pitches at Cactus Cliff. On Sunday we woke up to unexpected snow falling from the sky so we had to head back home. But it was good to get in one day of climbing in the sun in t-shirts.

More climbing fun!
Dates: February 26&27, 2022 (Sat&Sun)
Partner: Nate Arganbright
Climbed at: Cactus Cliff, The Bank, Sand Gulch
It was another weekend where the local crags were cold and dusted in the week's snowfall, but the forecast looked nice at Shelf Road. With the cold overnight temperatures and my need to do some school work in the evening and early morning, Nate and I decided to stay at a cheap hotel in Canon City. We climbed 17 pitches of 5.9-5.11c. The rock was dry and the recent snows cut down the crowds a bit. Another fun weekend of winter cragging!

More climbing fun!
Date: April 23, 2022 (Sat)
Partner: Nate Arganbright
Climbed at: The Bank, The Vault
Blizzard in Estes Park and Boulder, so we headed to Shelf for another fun day of clipping bolts. 13 pitches in one day!

More climbing fun!
Dates: November 19&20, 2022 (Sat&Sun)
Partner: Nate Arganbright
Climbed at: Cactus Cliff, The Bank
Daytime temps in the low 30's but the sun makes all the difference! This weekend trip marked our 17th and 18th days at Shelf Road in 2022. 15 pitches, 5.10b to 5.12b.

List of Climbs I've done at Shelf Road

LIST MAINLY FOR PERSONAL RECORD-KEEPING | DATES I'VE CLIMBED THERE ON SECOND TAB

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Comments Pertaining to this Page / Trip Report

Useful beta. Updated route information. Corrections. Historical notes. Interesting facts. No fluff please.
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