North Face
North-facing Colorado crag offering cool, stable climbing conditions.
- 25 routes
- 5.8 – 5.12d
Is North Face open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Canyon Lakes Ranger District.
Salt Cabin Prescribed (RX) Fire Closure
Agency alert covering Canyon Lakes Ranger District · Order 02-10-05-26-10 · USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests · USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
West Crystal A - Mechanical Fuelbreak Area and Road Closure
Agency alert covering Canyon Lakes Ranger District · Order 02-10-05-26-04 · USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District
Cameron Peak Fire Road Closures
Agency alert covering Canyon Lakes Ranger District · Order 02-10-05-26-01 · USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit North Face
Best months: May–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.
Jan
40° / 21°
5 wet
Feb
40° / 20°
6 wet
Mar
47° / 26°
8 wet
Apr
51° / 30°
10 wet
May
60° / 39°
12 wet
Jun
72° / 49°
11 wet
Jul
79° / 56°
11 wet
Aug
78° / 55°
11 wet
Sep
70° / 47°
8 wet
Oct
57° / 36°
7 wet
Nov
47° / 28°
6 wet
Dec
40° / 20°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Buckhorn Mtn 1 E, CO, 6.8 mi away at 7,400 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
North Face is a climbing area in the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in northern Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits within a cluster of climbing spots, with Southwest Alcove and Duke's Wall both about 0.1 mile away. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 79°F with lows near 56°F, while temperatures at the climbing area run cooler than that station's figures. Winters are cold, with highs around 40°F and lows near 20°F from December through February. For an overnight base, Stove Prairie Landing Campground is about 1.3 miles away and Ansel Watrous Campground about 1.7 miles. Young Gulch is a hike roughly 1.5 miles off.
Routes (25)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Southwest Alcove
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Southwest Alcove in Colorado has 5 sport climbing routes on 5 difficulty grades.
Duke's Wall
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Middle Class Wall
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The Poudre Face
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The Fishing Hole
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The Palace
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Red Wall
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