Colorado · Rock climbing · Sedalia

Jackson Creek

Jackson Creek in Colorado has 6 routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Jackson CreekPhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
6 routes
5.7 – 5.12b
Trad · Sport

Is Jackson Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 8 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Jackson Creek

Best months: May–July 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.

  1. Jan

    45° / 14°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    46° / 16°

    5 wet

  3. Mar

    53° / 23°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    58° / 29°

    8 wet

  5. May

    67° / 38°

    9 wet

  6. Jun

    79° / 47°

    9 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 53°

    12 wet

  8. Aug

    82° / 51°

    13 wet

  9. Sep

    76° / 43°

    7 wet

  10. Oct

    64° / 32°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    53° / 23°

    4 wet

  12. Dec

    44° / 15°

    5 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cheesman, CO, 12.4 mi away at 6,880 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.

Jackson Creek is a climbing area in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests, within the South Platte Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits among a cluster of named climbing spots. Jackson Creek Dome lies just 0.1 mile away, and Split Dome aka Split Rock is about half a mile off. The Taj Mahal is a little farther, at about 0.6 mile. The climbing here is a mix of trad and sport routes, with six routes listed in total. Trad routes include Project 47 at 5.12b and Flat Foot at 5.11a, and the hardest sport route is El Bosco at 5.10a. The grades run from 5.7 up to 5.12b, so there is something for climbers of different abilities. For timing, September is typically the most comfortable month, with highs around 76°F and lows near 43°F. Those are typical averages from the nearby Cheesman weather station, which sits roughly 1,100 feet lower than the area. July and August are warmer and wetter, with highs in the low 80s and about 12 to 13 wet days a month. The closest trails are Scottys Trail 681 and Dutch Fred Trail 679, both about 1.5 miles away. For an overnight base, Devils Head Campground is about 2.5 miles off, and Flat Rocks Campground is just beyond it.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The Taj MahalPhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Sawblade RidgePhoto: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Jackson Creek DomePhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Split Dome aka  Split RockPhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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The Crimpfest WallPhoto: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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