Main Elk Crag
Main Elk Crag in Colorado has 64 routes across 25 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
- 64 routes
- 5.7 – 5.13a
- Sport · Trad
Is Main Elk Crag open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in White River National Forest. It doesn't name Main Elk Crag, 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 Main Elk Crag
Best months: May–June and August–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
37° / 10°
8 wet
Feb
42° / 15°
7 wet
Mar
55° / 22°
7 wet
Apr
62° / 28°
9 wet
May
72° / 37°
9 wet
Jun
83° / 45°
6 wet
Jul
88° / 52°
9 wet
Aug
85° / 49°
9 wet
Sep
79° / 41°
8 wet
Oct
64° / 30°
8 wet
Nov
49° / 20°
7 wet
Dec
37° / 11°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rifle 3ene, CO, 11.7 mi away at 5,469 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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.
Main Elk Crag is a climbing area in the Rifle Ranger District of White River National Forest in western Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking destinations, with the closest neighbor, Pup Tent of Solitude, just 0.1 mile away. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Rifle show May highs around 72°F and September highs near 79°F, while July peaks around 88°F and winter highs hover in the upper 30s. Elk Creek Campground, about 6 miles away, offers a place to stay, and Rifle Mountain Park is a similar distance. Hadley Gulch, a hike about half a mile off, and the West Wall: Pummeling Sector and the Gothodrome climbing area, roughly 0.6 mile away, round out the options close to the crag.
Routes (64)
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