Rock Climbing

Until recently, rock climbing in the San Juans had been overlooked. Over the past few years there has been a fair amount of new route development. In the January 2005 issue, Rock and Ice Magazine had a feature article about the climbing and culture of Ouray. Within a few miles of Ouray you can now find five different rock types including limestone, quartzite, cutler sandstone, conglomerate, and a hard metamorphic sandstone.

Bouldering
Telluride - (Illium Boulders, and more)
Ouray - lots of rock, but not very developed. Bring a hammer and wire brush for cleaning.

Sport Climbing Areas
Ouray - (Pool Wall, Sandias, Rock Park, Jimmy Cliff, Overlook), Red Mtn. Pass.
Ouray Mountain Sports has a guidebook that covers these areas.
Montrose - Dry Creek
Telluride - Falls wall, Bear Creek Canyon
Norwood and Naturita - see Charlie Fowler's website

Tradional Climbing Areas
Ouray - Just above the hot springs pool is the Pool Wall. A few traditional routes exist here as well as the Waterfall Wall and the Sandias.
Black Canyon - The South Rim of the Black Canyon is one hour and the North Rim is two hours from Ouray. Multi-pitch traditional and big-wall routes exist here. This is an area of adventure and only for the experienced rock climber.
Escalante Canyon - Under two hours from Ouray and is similar to Indian Creek.
Paradox Valley - About two hours from Ouray and is also similar to Indian Creek.

Alpine Rock Climbing
Chimney Peak - features a 3-pitch 5.6 up a dramatic mountain. Comments: bad rock, chimney climbing, tricky approach.
Weminueche - Just south of Silverton is the Weminuche Range that has some large alpine walls and the popular Wham Ridge (5.6).
Mt. Sneffels - Features some easy summer routes and well as the classic Snake Couliour. You can drive to almost 12,000 ft. to start this 14'er.

Links
climbingboulder.com - Lots of beta and information about climbs all over colorado.
ourayclimbing.com - For rock climbing instruction by San Juan Moutain Guides.