Colorado · Rock climbing · Ouray

Dark Continent

The Pool Wall's hardest catalogued climb.

5.12b
grade
Sport Bolted
style

Is Dark Continent open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Dark Continent, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Dark Continent

Best months: June–July and 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

    34° / 15°

    8 wet · 7 snow

  2. Feb

    36° / 19°

    8 wet · 7 snow

  3. Mar

    44° / 25°

    9 wet · 8 snow

  4. Apr

    52° / 31°

    9 wet · 6 snow

  5. May

    63° / 39°

    7 wet · 2 snow

  6. Jun

    74° / 47°

    6 wet

  7. Jul

    79° / 53°

    10 wet

  8. Aug

    75° / 51°

    14 wet

  9. Sep

    69° / 45°

    11 wet

  10. Oct

    57° / 34°

    8 wet · 3 snow

  11. Nov

    44° / 24°

    8 wet · 6 snow

  12. Dec

    35° / 16°

    8 wet · 7 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ouray, CO, 0.7 mi away at 7,840 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

This is the hardest route catalogued at The Pool Wall, representing the upper end of the crag's grade span.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Ouray (Ice/Mixed)Photo: Sale Family Memories, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ouray (Ice/Mixed)

~1 min drive

Ouray (Ice/Mixed) is a mixed climbing area in Colorado with 1 route.

Five Fingers areaPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Five Fingers area

~2 min drive

Five Fingers area in Colorado has 5 climbing routes with 2 difficulty grades.

Randall's Badger Sanctuary aka Spider DenPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Randall's Badger Sanctuary aka Spider Den

~2 min drive

Randall's Badger Sanctuary (Spider Den) in Colorado has 7 sport routes rated from 5.10a to 5.12c.

Uncompahgre Gorge aka Ouray Ice ParkPhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Uncompahgre Gorge aka Ouray Ice Park

~2 min drive

2 trad routes at Uncompahgre Gorge / Ouray Ice Park in Colorado.

Camp Bird Mine Rd/Mountain Rescue Cache CragPhoto: ranok, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Camp Bird Mine Rd/Mountain Rescue Cache Crag

~2 min drive

Camp Bird Mine Rd/Mountain Rescue Cache Crag in Colorado has 6 mixed climbing routes.

Overlook CliffPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Overlook Cliff

~2 min drive

Overlook Cliff in Colorado has 32 sport climbing routes across 16 difficulty grades.

Ouray vicinity (rock)Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ouray vicinity (rock)

~2 min drive

Ouray vicinity (rock) in Colorado has 21 climbing routes across 14 grades.

Jimmy CliffPhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Jimmy Cliff

~2 min drive

Jimmy Cliff in Colorado has 12 sport climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

Camp Bird RoadPhoto: Sale Family Memories, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Camp Bird Road

~6 min drive

Camp Bird Road in Colorado has 9 traditional climbing routes across 7 grades.

Technicolor Wall aka Techno CragPhoto: iagoarchangel, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Technicolor Wall aka Techno Crag

~6 min drive

Technicolor Wall (Techno Crag) in Colorado has 11 sport routes with 9 difficulty grades.

Local businesses nearby

Outfitters and businesses near Ouray. They haven’t set up their Roamze page yet.

Peak Mountain Guides

Rock Climbing business nearby (under a mile away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet

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