Colorado · Rock climbing · Red Cliff

Alpine Rock

Alpine Rock in Colorado has 33 climbing routes with 13 difficulty grades.

33 routes
5.2 – 5.11a/b
Alpine · Trad

Is Alpine Rock open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in White River National Forest. It doesn't name Alpine Rock, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Alpine Rock

No month here meets our mild-weather rule. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

  1. Jan

    27° / 3°

    15 wet · 15 snow

  2. Feb

    29° / 3°

    15 wet · 15 snow

  3. Mar

    35° / 8°

    14 wet · 14 snow

  4. Apr

    40° / 15°

    13 wet · 13 snow

  5. May

    49° / 25°

    10 wet · 8 snow

  6. Jun

    61° / 34°

    8 wet · 2 snow

  7. Jul

    67° / 40°

    13 wet

  8. Aug

    64° / 39°

    15 wet

  9. Sep

    58° / 32°

    11 wet · 2 snow

  10. Oct

    47° / 21°

    9 wet · 7 snow

  11. Nov

    35° / 11°

    12 wet · 12 snow

  12. Dec

    27° / 3°

    15 wet · 15 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 3.3 mi away at 11,344 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Alpine Rock is a climbing area in Colorado's White River National Forest, within the Holy Cross Ranger District. Summer is the warmest window here. The nearby weather station at Climax, about 3.3 miles away, records typical July highs around 67°F with lows near 40°F, and the crag sits higher than the station, so expect temperatures at the rock to run a bit cooler. Snow is typical from fall through spring, and August averages as many wet days as midwinter, so plan around changeable weather even in the warm months. Chalk Lake, a hike about 1.5 miles away, is the closest neighbor, and Segment 8 of the Colorado Trail, a mountain biking route, is about 1.7 miles off. For an overnight base, Camp Hale East Fork Group Campground is about 3.3 miles away. Climbers can also visit Fremont Pass, roughly 3.7 miles away.

Routes (33)

Long / Multi-area Traverses(1)

Skyline Traverse5.6

Mount of the Holy Cross(1)

North Face5.8

Sawtooth Ridge, Mt. Bierstadt/Evans combo(1)

Sawtooth Traverse3rd

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