Colorado · Rock climbing · Nathrop

Chalk Creek Boulder aka Boulder of Sorrow

Chalk Creek Boulder in Colorado has 9 bouldering routes ranging from v2 to v5.

Chalk Creek Boulder aka Boulder of SorrowPhoto: oxtopus, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
9 routes
V1 – V10
Bouldering

Is Chalk Creek Boulder aka Boulder of Sorrow open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 7 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Chalk Creek Boulder aka Boulder of Sorrow

Best months: May–September. 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

    41° / 11°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    43° / 14°

    5 wet

  3. Mar

    50° / 21°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    56° / 27°

    6 wet

  5. May

    67° / 36°

    7 wet

  6. Jun

    78° / 43°

    7 wet

  7. Jul

    83° / 49°

    12 wet

  8. Aug

    80° / 47°

    12 wet

  9. Sep

    74° / 40°

    8 wet

  10. Oct

    62° / 29°

    6 wet

  11. Nov

    50° / 20°

    5 wet

  12. Dec

    40° / 11°

    5 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Buena Vista 2s, CO, 9.5 mi away at 7,954 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Chalk Creek Boulder, also known as Boulder of Sorrow, is a climbing area in the Salida Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits about 0.2 miles from Chalk Lake, Chalk Creek and the Cascade Creek Trail, which makes it easy to pair with other outings in the area. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Buena Vista show July highs around 83°F with lows near 49°F, while September cools to highs in the mid-70s. That station sits about 900 feet lower than the boulder, so temperatures up here run cooler. Nearby options include the Cascade Boulders climbing area about 0.7 miles away, Mt. Princeton Campground about half a mile off, and the Narrow Gauge hike roughly 1.8 miles away.

Routes (9)