Colorado · Rock climbing · Estes Park

J-Crack Slab Area

J-Crack Slab Area in Colorado has 25 routes with 17 difficulty grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad climbing.

J-Crack Slab AreaPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
25 routes
5.7+ – 5.12c/d
Trad · Mixed · Sport

Best time to visit J-Crack Slab Area

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, 4 mi away at 7,812 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.

J-Crack Slab Area is a climbing area in Rocky Mountain National Park, within the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness, on land managed by the National Park Service. It sits in the park's backcountry, and a fee is charged for access. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Estes Park show July highs around 80°F with lows near 48°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. The Book Boulders and Pages Wall Area climbing areas are both about 0.1 mile away. The Lumpy Ridge Trail and MacGregor Falls Trail are within about 1.5 miles.

Routes (25)

Happy CamperFA: Justin DuBois and Jason Seaver5.10Mission ImpossibleFA: George Hurley, Dave Rearick, 19755.10aThe CavityFA: Doug Snively (likely in the '70s or early '80s)5.10bVisual AidsFA: FA-?5.10bThindependenceFA: Randy Joseph and Tim Hanson (I believe), early 1980s5.10cTurn the PageFA: [Nate A, Joey V. 6-1-05]5.11-KOAlienFA: Jason Seaver, Nate A., 3/20/055.11+Stretch MarksFA: [Scott Kimball]5.11aMission AccomplishedFA: Bernard & Robert Gillett, 19905.11a/bAlien AlgorithmFA: Andy Brown 19945.11bFascist Drill in the WestFA: Mike Caldwell and Randy Ferris5.11bPizza FaceFA: Jim Brink, Malcom Daly, mid-'80s5.11dThe Adventures of B-DogFA: Bernard Gillett and Crusty5.12aMonkey on a StringFA: [Lawrence Steumpke]5.12bWeekend WarriorFA: [Randy Farris, FFA]5.12c/dThe CampgroundFA: Douglas Snively?5.7+The Cave ExitFA: first ascent unknown5.7+FenderFA: Tom Fender, Jack Turner5.8Pear ButtressFA: Layton Kor5.8Unnamed 5.9 TR5.8Endless CrackFA: Hurley and Rearick, 19755.9FempFA: Ren Fenton, Charles Kemp, 19625.9Loose Ends5.9ThinstoneFA: FA: ?5.9J-CrackFA: S. Hickman & J. Bryant, 1964. FFA (headwall): Mike Caldwell. Billy Westbay and Dan McClure, 1973? D. McClure, M. Covington, B. Westbay, 1975 (from Ros5.9+

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
Yes

Source: National Park Service API

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