Colorado · Rock climbing · Twin Lakes

Monitor Rock

Monitor Rock in Colorado has 13 climbing routes across 9 grades, offering bouldering, sport, and trad.

13 routes
5.10a – 5.11d
Sport · Trad · Bouldering

Is Monitor Rock open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Leadville Ranger District. It doesn't name Monitor Rock, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Leadville Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Monitor Rock

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.

  1. Jan

    34° / 5°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    35° / 5°

    5 wet

  3. Mar

    41° / 13°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    46° / 21°

    6 wet

  5. May

    58° / 30°

    7 wet

  6. Jun

    70° / 37°

    8 wet

  7. Jul

    74° / 43°

    11 wet

  8. Aug

    71° / 42°

    12 wet

  9. Sep

    65° / 35°

    8 wet

  10. Oct

    53° / 26°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    42° / 17°

    4 wet

  12. Dec

    34° / 8°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Twin Lakes Rsvr, CO, 5.6 mi away at 9,236 ft. The station sits about 900 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.

Monitor Rock is a climbing area in the Leadville Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Summit Dome and Boulder Wall each about 0.1 mile away. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs in the mid-70s and lows in the low 40s in July, the warmest month. That station sits about 900 feet lower than the climbing area, so expect cooler temperatures up high. Several other outings are close by. Black Cloud and Echo Canyon are both about a mile away, and Twin Peaks Campground is about 1.7 miles off. Lake Creek, about 1.1 miles away, offers canoeing.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive