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.
Multiple roads and trails damaged by flooding on SJNF
Agency closure covering San Juan National Forest · USFS · San Juan National Forest
Bear Activity High Across San Juan National Forest
Agency alert covering San Juan National Forest · USFS · San Juan National Forest
Cascade Flume Safety Closure
Agency alert covering Columbine Ranger District · Order 02-13-08-25-07 · USFS · Columbine Ranger District
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.
Jan
39° / 13°
7 wet
Feb
45° / 19°
7 wet
Mar
54° / 25°
7 wet
Apr
63° / 30°
7 wet
May
71° / 37°
6 wet
Jun
81° / 46°
5 wet
Jul
85° / 53°
11 wet
Aug
82° / 51°
12 wet
Sep
76° / 44°
9 wet
Oct
64° / 33°
7 wet
Nov
50° / 23°
7 wet
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.
Routes (9)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Cougar Land
~1 min drive
Cougar Land in Colorado has 12 bouldering routes across 8 difficulty grades.
Junction Creek
~1 min drive
Junction Creek in Colorado has 2 climbing routes with sport and trad options.
Chipette Rock
~2 min drive
Chipette Rock in Colorado has 8 routes from 5.7 to 5.11a, offering bouldering, mixed, and trad climbing.
Chipmunk Rock
~2 min drive
Chipmunk Rock in Colorado has 7 routes ranging from moderate to hard, offering sport and trad climbing.
Turtle Lake Cliffs
~3 min drive
Turtle Lake Cliffs in Colorado offers 16 climbing routes with 11 difficulty grades, including mixed, sport, and trad styles.
Big East Block
~3 min drive
Big East Block in Colorado has 7 bouldering routes across 6 grades.
Roadside Boulder
~3 min drive
Roadside Boulder in Colorado has 9 bouldering routes across 4 grades.
West Block
~3 min drive
West Block in Colorado has 11 bouldering routes across 7 difficulty grades.
Bouldering
~3 min drive
25 bouldering routes in Colorado, 12 difficulty grades.
Lightner Creek
~4 min drive
Lightner Creek is a 9-route climbing crag in Colorado with 7 difficulty grades.
Also worth it near here