Colorado · Rock climbing · Ophir Loop

The Dark Side

14-route climbing crag in Colorado with sport and trad options.

14 routes
5.8 – 5.13b
Sport · Trad

Is Dark Side, The 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 Side, The, 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 The Dark Side

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

    34° / -6°

    9 wet

  2. Feb

    36° / -3°

    9 wet

  3. Mar

    43° / 6°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    48° / 17°

    9 wet

  5. May

    58° / 25°

    9 wet

  6. Jun

    70° / 31°

    7 wet

  7. Jul

    75° / 38°

    13 wet

  8. Aug

    72° / 37°

    15 wet

  9. Sep

    66° / 30°

    12 wet

  10. Oct

    55° / 20°

    9 wet

  11. Nov

    43° / 7°

    8 wet

  12. Dec

    34° / -5°

    9 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Silverton, CO, 11.4 mi away at 9,285 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Dark Side is a climbing area in the Norwood Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with the Bermuda Triangle and Wild Westerlies, The both within a quarter mile. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Silverton weather station, which sits a few hundred feet lower, show July highs around 75°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s and lows drop to about -6°F in January. The closest neighbors are the Bermuda Triangle, about 0.1 mile away, and the Wild Westerlies, about 0.2 mile away. For camping, Matterhorn is about 1.2 miles off, and Priest Lake Designated Camping Area is about 1.7 miles away.

Routes (14)

Beastly Wall, The(1)

Beast Of Burden5.13b/c

Beautiful Dreamer(1)

Beautiful Dreamer5.10

Civil Wall, The(1)

Wildling5.12b

South Seas - Man Overboard Area(3)

Man Overboard5.12Ebb Tide5.8Rip Tide5.9

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