The Laboratory
The Laboratory in Colorado has 5 climbing routes ranging across 5 difficulty grades.
- 5 routes
- 5.6 – 5.10c
- Sport · Trad
Is Laboratory, The open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 8 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Interlaken Hotel Tree Hazards
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Sharpe Fire Update
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Turquoise Lake Road (County Road 4) Closure
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Downed and weakened trees on South Platte Ranger District
Agency alert covering South Platte Ranger District · USFS · South Platte Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit The Laboratory
Best months: June–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.
Jan
33° / 9°
Feb
34° / 11°
Mar
41° / 17°
Apr
47° / 23°
May
57° / 31°
Jun
69° / 41°
Jul
74° / 47°
Aug
71° / 45°
Sep
65° / 38°
Oct
54° / 27°
Nov
42° / 18°
Dec
33° / 12°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Divide 4nw, CO, 21.4 mi away at 9,134 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Laboratory is a climbing area in the South Platte Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several named climbing areas, with Fall Wall, Devil's Gate Sector and Imitation Wall all about 0.1 mile away. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 74°F in July and lows near 47°F, while winter highs stay in the low 30s. Devils Head Campground is about 1.3 miles away, and Flat Rocks Campground is about 5 miles off. Horse Creek, a canoeing spot, is roughly 6 miles away.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)The Starcastle
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12 routes at Starcastle, The in Colorado, ranging from 9 difficulty grades.
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Sawblade Ridge in Colorado has 9 sport climbing routes on 7 difficulty grades.
Photo: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)West Side Wall
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West Side Wall in Colorado has 7 sport climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.
Photo: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Devil's Head
~1 min drive
Devil's Head in Colorado has 57 climbing routes across 25 difficulty grades, offering bouldering, sport, and trad.
Photo: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)The Crimpfest Wall
~1 min drive
Crimpfest Wall, The in Colorado has 25 routes with mixed, sport, and trad climbing.
Photo: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Chicken Head Ranch
~1 min drive
Chicken Head Ranch in Colorado has 24 climbing routes with 18 difficulty grades.
Fall Wall
~0 min drive
Fall Wall in Colorado has 5 sport routes spanning 5 difficulty grades.
Devil's Gate Sector
~0 min drive
Devil's Gate Sector in Colorado has 7 climbing routes across 7 grades, offering sport and trad styles.
Imitation Wall
~0 min drive
10-route climbing crag in Colorado with sport and trad options.
Recovery Wall
~0 min drive
Recovery Wall in Colorado has 23 routes with 16 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
