Left Side
Left Side in Colorado has 6 sport climbing routes with 6 distinct difficulty grades.
- 6 routes
- 5.10a – 5.13a
- Sport
Is Left Side open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in White River National Forest. It doesn't name Left Side, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Green Mountain Reservoir and Ruedi boat ramps closed for the season
Agency closure covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Eagle-Thomasville (400), Burnt Mtn (506), plus NFSR 414 and 416 openings delayed to June 16
Agency closure covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
FSR 314, Crystal River Road, open but be prepared for delays
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
White River National Forest lifting fire restrictions on Friday Sept. 25
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · Order 2026 · USFS · White River National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Left Side
Best months: May–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
35° / 9°
11 wet
Feb
38° / 12°
10 wet
Mar
46° / 21°
11 wet
Apr
55° / 28°
11 wet
May
65° / 35°
10 wet
Jun
77° / 42°
7 wet
Jul
82° / 48°
11 wet
Aug
80° / 47°
12 wet
Sep
72° / 40°
9 wet
Oct
60° / 29°
9 wet
Nov
45° / 19°
9 wet
Dec
34° / 9°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Aspen Pitkin Co Ap, CO, 19.5 mi away at 7,720 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Left Side is a climbing area in the Sopris Ranger District of Colorado's White River National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing areas, which makes it an easy addition to a day of bouldering or sport climbing in this part of the forest. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Aspen run to highs around 77°F in June and 82°F in July, with lows in the low to mid 40s. Winters are cold, with January highs in the mid 30s. The Gash and Schoolyard climbing areas both lie within a quarter mile. Avalanche Campground and Redstone Family Campground are each about 2 miles away.
Routes (6)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: David Leo Veksler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Southwest TR
~36 min drive
Southwest TR in Colorado has 10 routes with 7 difficulty grades, offering mixed and sport climbing.
Photo: David Leo Veksler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)West Side - Lower Buttress
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West Side - Lower Buttress in Colorado has 9 climbing routes across 8 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad styles.
Photo: David Leo Veksler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)East Face
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East Face in Colorado has 7 sport climbing routes across 6 grades.
The Schoolyard
~0 min drive
9-route crag in Colorado with mixed, sport, and trad climbing.
Narrows Proper
~0 min drive
Narrows Proper in Colorado has 16 climbing routes across 11 grades.
The Watchtower
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Watchtower, The in Colorado has 6 climbing routes.
The Industrial Wall
~0 min drive
7 routes at Industrial Wall, The in Colorado range from 4 difficulty grades and offer sport and trad climbing.
The Front Porch
~0 min drive
Front Porch is a Colorado climbing crag with 11 routes across 9 grades, offering sport and trad options.
The Narrows
~1 min drive
Compact Colorado crag with vertical climbing in a scenic narrow setting.
Redstone Area
~3 min drive
Redstone Area in Colorado has 1 sport climbing route rated 5.10a to 5.10c.
