Climbing areas & closures

Boulder, Colorado is a climbing mecca, and its crags are steeped in history. Here you'll find everything from bolt-protected clip-ups, run-out test pieces, 1,000 ft. cruiser slabs, and a healthy dose of hard boulders. The sheer concentration and variety of rock make Boulder a world-class destination for any level of rock enthusiast. 

Neptune Picks:

Flatirons - Seal Rock 
Classic East Face moderates, (maybe the best pitch of moderate finger crack around!) complete with over a dozen long steep sport routes on the south face for those seeking "la dura"
*Be sure to check current closures Feb. 1st - July 31st (See Below)

Boulder Canyon - Castle Rock
 -Home of the hardest free climb in America Circa 1964, Athletes Feet .11a. Castle Rock hosts a number of classic climbs up to 350ft.
*Don't miss the Citadel Boulder for some beautiful, riverside bouldering

Eldorado Canyon - West Ridge 
Enormous variety, with over 200+ routes spread out on this massive wall. 

 

Map courtesy of Mountain Project  

Click, drag and zoom to find your destination. 

 

Boulder County Open Space Current Wildlife Closures:

Golden Eagle Closures Dec. 15 - July 31

Lefthand Canyon Palisades, at the intersection of Lefthand Canyon Drive and Olde Stage Road (Buckingham Picnic area remains open).

Flagstaff Mountain, the north side of Flagstaff Mountain. The Boy Scout Trail remains open.

Skunk Canyon, including Ridges 2, 3 and 4, the Aechean Pronouncement, the Dreadnaught, the North Ridge and the entirety of Sacred Cliffs.

Cliff-Nesting Raptor Closures Feb. 1 - July 31

Third Flatiron, including Queen Anne’s Head, W.C Fields Pinnacle, 1911 Gully and the Ghetto, the East Bench & West Bench, the East & West Ironing Boards, The Fin, Green Thumb and Jaws.

The Back Porch and The Box

Der Freischutz

Fern Canyon, north of the Fern Canyon Trail, including the Nebel Horn Ridge, East Ridge, the Goose and the Goose Eggs (the designated Fern Canyon hiking trail remains open).

The Sphinx

The Wings

The Apostle

Shadow Canyon and the Matron: The Maiden remains open and accessible from the east; Shadow Canyon Trail remains open.

The entire Mickey Mouse wall, including South Tower, North Tower, Central Tower, Ship's Prow, Wall of Shiva's Dance, The Gargoyle, the East Face and Cryptic Crags.

 Boulder Climbing Community

"Every year a variety of local crags are closed to protect nesting raptors. As climbers, we should see it as a privilege that we can share these few crags with our winged friends, and an honor to let them have solitude to reproduce. It is only for half of the year, on a small fraction of the available nearby climbing terrain.
Please help spread the word: do not climb on these formations during the closure period! As the season progresses and it is known which nesting sites are active, some of these formations are re-opened to climbing before the deadline."