Rock Climbing

Rock Climbing Areas

• California Park/Black Mountain Area

  This area is located in Northern Colorado, on the west side of the Routt National Forest. The California Park/Black Mountain area is home to the Elkhead Mountains, and also features locations such as Bears Ears Peaks, Slater Park, Sugar Loaf Mountain, and Sawtooth Mountain. Hahn's Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District manages this area, which is north of Highway 40, northeast of Craig, Colo., and northwest of Steamboat Springs, Colo.

• Flat Tops Area

  The Flat Tops area is managed by the Yampa Ranger District, and consists mainly of its' namesake Wilderness and surrounding recreation sites. The Bear River corridor, Chapman and Sheriff Reservoirs, and Dunckley Pass are popular locations. Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway, County Road 8, runs through the northern portion of this area.

  Flat Tops Wilderness spans the Routt National Forest and White River National Forest.  Elevations range from 7,640 to 12,354 feet.  This is the third largest Wilderness in Colorado.

  The United States Congress designated the Flat Tops Wilderness in 1975 and it now has a total of 235,214 acres. Arthur Carhart's 1919 visit to Trappers Lake in the Flat Tops prompted him to be the first U.S. Forest Service official to initiate a plea for Wilderness preservation.

• Routt Divide Trail #1108
• Laramie Peak Area

  The Laramie Peak area is located in east central Wyoming, stretching from southeast of Casper to west of Wheatland.  This portion of the Medicine Bow National Forest is part of the Laramie Range and is dominated by the jagged 10,274 foot crest of Laramie Peak.  The Laramie Peak area is managed by the Douglas Ranger District.

  With nearly 180,000 acres on the Medicine Bow National Forest, the Laramie Peak area offers many public uses and recreation opportunities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, OHV riding, and many others.

  From I25 at Douglas or Glendo, expect to drive one hour just to get to the National Forest boundary and another half hour to an hour to get where you are headed.

  Dispersed Camping is allowed on all Forest Service Land in the Laramie Peak Unit, the restrictions are on motor vehicle parking and road access.  The Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) identifies what roads are open to the public.  From there, you can camp along open roads and trails, parking 1 to 2 car lengths from the road and in selected areas up to 300' from the road (see MVUM) and in either case, you cannot cause habitat damage. 

  After the Campgrounds close (Esterbrook, Friend Park, Curtis Gulch and Campbell Creek), they can be used for dispersed camping.  The vault toilet will be open but water and trash services are not available.  Please pack in and pack out, limit stays to 14 days and bear in mind that many of the county roads have limited maintenance from November to May.  

• Curtis Gulch Campground
• Curtis Gulch Trailhead
• Douglas Ranger District
• La Prele Guard Station
• Labonte Trailhead
• Mount Zirkel/Park Range Area

  The Mount Zirkel/Park Range area is on the Routt National Forest in northwestern Colorado. It consists mainly of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness and other surrounding recreation sites. It is managed by the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District on the west side and the Parks Ranger District on the east side.

  The United States Congress designated the Mount Zirkel Wilderness in 1964 as one of the original areas protected under the Wilderness Act. It has a total of 159,935 acres. All of this wilderness is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. These National Forest lands are on the west side of what is known as "North Park," an open, sagebrush upland of 40 square miles.  It is one of three parks in Colorado, joining "Middle Park" and "South Park" in the trio.

• North Routt County Area

  This area is managed by the Hahn's Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District and is located in northwest Colorado, just south of the Colorado/Wyoming border and the Sierra Madre Range. It is a part of Routt National Forest, surrounds Pearl Lake and Steamboat Lake State Parks, and runs parallel to the Continental Divide.

  Popular recreation locations include Big Red Park, Crane Park, Elkhorn Mountain, Hahns Peak, Hinman Park, and Seedhouse, just to name a few.

   

  This area is home to many activities such as mountain biking, hiking, fishing, OHV riding, and various winter activities.

• Seedhouse Campground
• Pole Mountain Area

  The Pole Mountain area is located north of Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne in Albany County, Wyo. Approximately 55,000 acres in size, Pole Mountain is a popular area for recreation and the uniqueness of its terrain.  Large rock outcrops, rolling hills, short grass prairie, and many different types of trees inhabit this area on the Medicine Bow National Forest.  The Pole Mountain area is managed by the Laramie Ranger District.

  In the Laramie, Cheyenne, and Fort Collins area, the Pole Mountain unit is some of the closest and most accessible National Forest System lands. Pole Mountain sees heavy year-round usage from visitors who want to explore public lands. Popular uses include, but are not limited to, mountain biking, livestock grazing, hiking, off-highway vehicle travel, horseback riding, communication sites, climbing, camping, military training, hunting/fishing, and winter sports.

• Blair Picnic Site
• Laramie Ranger District
• Nautilus Rock Trailhead
• Vedauwoo Campground
• Vedauwoo Designated Dispersed Campsites
• Vedauwoo Picnic Sites
• Sierra Madre Area

  Southwest of Saratoga, Wyo. on the Medicine Bow National Forest lies the Sierra Madre Range, which is a part of the main range of the Rocky Mountains.  There are two wilderness areas in the Sierra Madre Range: Huston Park Wilderness and Encampment River Wilderness.  Named for the famous battle between Indians and Fur Trappers in 1841, the 57-mile Battle Pass Scenic Byway runs through this area.  This byway is known for its scenic views, especially during fall when the colors are changing.

   

  Named for a famous Battle between Indians and Fur Trappers in 1841

  - See more at: https://www.wyomingtourism.org/things-to-do/detail/Battle-Pass-Scenic-Byway/6990#sthash.TkLGolug.dpuf

  This area has many activities such as hiking, fishing, mountain biking, camping, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing.  The Sierra Madre Range is managed by the Brush Creek/Hayden District.

   

  For more information contact or stop into the Ranger Station:

  Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger Station
  2171 S. Highway 130
  Saratoga, WY 82331
  307-326-5258

• Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District
• Steamboat Springs Area

  The Steamboat Springs area is east and north of Steamboat Springs, Colo. It is managed by the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District with a Ranger Station/Visitor Center in the town of Steamboat Springs. Recreation sites along Buffalo Pass and Rabbit Ears Pass are located within this area to include the popular waterfall hike, Fish Creek Falls. 
  
  The area lies against the western ridge of the Continental Divide and the Routt National Forest. Multiple wilderness areas are nearby. The area is bountiful with recreation opportunities such as mountain biking, hiking, camping, and fishing, as well as winter sports such as skiing and snowmobiling, just to name a few.

• Dumont Lake Campground
• Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District