Desdemona
Desdemona is a Colorado climbing crag with 5 routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
- 5 routes
- 5.6 – 5.11a
- Trad · Sport
Is Desdemona open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests · USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Caribou Road Closure Order
Agency alert covering Boulder Ranger District · Order 02-10-01-26-04 · USFS · Boulder Ranger District
Raptor Nesting Area Closure - Boulder Ranger District
Agency alert covering Boulder Ranger District · Order 02-10-01-26-06 · USFS · Boulder Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Desdemona
Best months: April–June and September–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
47° / 21°
6 wet
Feb
48° / 22°
7 wet
Mar
57° / 29°
8 wet
Apr
63° / 34°
10 wet
May
71° / 43°
12 wet
Jun
83° / 51°
10 wet
Jul
88° / 57°
11 wet
Aug
86° / 55°
10 wet
Sep
79° / 48°
8 wet
Oct
66° / 37°
7 wet
Nov
54° / 28°
6 wet
Dec
46° / 21°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Boulder, CO, 14.4 mi away at 5,484 ft. The station sits about 700 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.
Desdemona is a climbing area in the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of other climbing areas, with Area 51 just 0.1 mile away and Mushroom Massif about 0.2 mile off. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Boulder show May highs around 71°F and September highs near 79°F, with July peaking at about 88°F. Climbers can also head to Third Band, about 0.4 mile away, and Coffintop, a hike roughly 1.1 mile off. Paddlers will find North Saint Vrain Creek about 6.6 miles away.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Area 51
~0 min drive
Area 51 in Colorado has 6 routes with mixed, sport, and trad climbing.
Mushroom Massif
~0 min drive
Mushroom Massif in Colorado has 15 climbing routes across 12 grades.
Country-Western Crags
~1 min drive
Varied Colorado climbing with routes for intermediate to advanced climbers.
Third Band
~1 min drive
Third Band in Colorado has 7 traditional climbing routes across 4 difficulty grades.
Dance Hall of the Dead
~1 min drive
12-route climbing area in Colorado with mixed, sport, and trad options.
Creekside Boulders
~1 min drive
Creekside Boulders in Colorado has 9 bouldering routes.
December Wall
~1 min drive
December Wall in Colorado has 24 climbing routes across 17 grades, featuring mixed, sport, and trad styles.
The Shrine of Vanity
~1 min drive
Shrine of Vanity, The in Colorado has 9 routes across 5 grades, offering mixed and traditional climbing.
Mosh Wall
~1 min drive
Mosh Wall in Colorado has 5 mixed, sport, and trad routes across 4 difficulty grades.
Upper Infirmary Slabs
~2 min drive
Upper Infirmary Slabs in Colorado has 14 climbing routes across 8 grades.
