Colorado · Rock climbing · Durango

Central Portion

Central Portion in Colorado has 9 climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

9 routes
5.8 – 5.11a/b
Sport · Trad · Mixed

Is Central Portion open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in San Juan National Forest. It doesn't name Central Portion, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Best time to visit Central Portion

Best months: May–October. 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

    39° / 13°

    7 wet

  2. Feb

    45° / 19°

    7 wet

  3. Mar

    54° / 25°

    7 wet

  4. Apr

    63° / 30°

    7 wet

  5. May

    71° / 37°

    6 wet

  6. Jun

    81° / 46°

    5 wet

  7. Jul

    85° / 53°

    11 wet

  8. Aug

    82° / 51°

    12 wet

  9. Sep

    76° / 44°

    9 wet

  10. Oct

    64° / 33°

    7 wet

  11. Nov

    50° / 23°

    7 wet

  12. Dec

    40° / 13°

    7 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Durango, CO, 4.7 mi away at 6,761 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Central Portion is a climbing area in the Columbine Ranger District of San Juan National Forest in southwest Colorado, close to Durango. The Forest Service manages the land. Typical averages from the Durango weather station, about 5 miles away, put September highs near 76°F with lows around 44°F, and June highs near 81°F. The station sits roughly 400 feet below the crag, so temperatures at the rock run slightly cooler, and July and August bring the most wet days of the year. Two more climbing areas, Far Right and Ciao Bella!, sit about 0.1 mile away, as does the Colorado Trail segment from the trailhead to Gudys. Junction Creek Campground is about 0.3 mile off for anyone planning to stay overnight.