Colorado · Rock climbing · Estes Park

First Pew

First Pew in Colorado has 9 climbing routes with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

9 routes
5.7 – 5.10+
Trad · Sport · Mixed

Is First Pew open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Canyon Lakes Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit First Pew

Best months: May–June 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

    37° / 16°

    7 wet

  2. Feb

    38° / 16°

    8 wet

  3. Mar

    45° / 21°

    9 wet

  4. Apr

    52° / 26°

    10 wet

  5. May

    61° / 35°

    12 wet

  6. Jun

    74° / 43°

    10 wet

  7. Jul

    80° / 48°

    13 wet

  8. Aug

    78° / 46°

    13 wet

  9. Sep

    70° / 39°

    9 wet

  10. Oct

    57° / 30°

    7 wet

  11. Nov

    44° / 23°

    6 wet

  12. Dec

    36° / 16°

    7 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Estes Park 3 Sse, CO, 6 mi away at 7,812 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

First Pew is a climbing area in the Comanche Peak Wilderness, part of the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land, and the area sits within designated wilderness. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Estes Park run from highs around 70°F in September to about 80°F in July, with July also the wettest month at about 13 wet days. That station sits roughly 300 feet lower than the area, so temperatures on the rock itself run a bit cooler. Nine routes are listed for First Pew, with five trad routes and three sport routes. Grades range from 5.7 to 5.10+. Trad options include Altar Boy at 5.7 and Southern Hospitality at 5.8-, while New York Reload is a sport route at 5.10. The Pulpit Rock Massif and Pulpit Rock lie just 0.1 mile away, and the Cow Creek Trail is about 0.2 mile off. Rocky Mountain National Park's Aspenglen Campground is roughly 5 miles away.

Routes (9)

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