Colorado · Rock climbing · Ouray

Overlook Cliff

Overlook Cliff in Colorado has 32 sport climbing routes across 16 difficulty grades.

Overlook CliffPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
32 routes
5.8 – 5.12c
Sport

Is Overlook Cliff open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Overlook Cliff, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Overlook Cliff

Best months: June–July and 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° / 15°

    8 wet · 7 snow

  2. Feb

    36° / 19°

    8 wet · 7 snow

  3. Mar

    44° / 25°

    9 wet · 8 snow

  4. Apr

    52° / 31°

    9 wet · 6 snow

  5. May

    63° / 39°

    7 wet · 2 snow

  6. Jun

    74° / 47°

    6 wet

  7. Jul

    79° / 53°

    10 wet

  8. Aug

    75° / 51°

    14 wet

  9. Sep

    69° / 45°

    11 wet

  10. Oct

    57° / 34°

    8 wet · 3 snow

  11. Nov

    44° / 24°

    8 wet · 6 snow

  12. Dec

    35° / 16°

    8 wet · 7 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ouray, CO, 0.7 mi away at 7,840 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Overlook Cliff is a climbing area in the Ouray Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado, close to the town of Ouray. Summer into early fall is the most comfortable stretch, with typical June highs around 74°F and lows near 47°F, and September highs near 69°F, according to averages from a nearby Ouray weather station. That station sits roughly 700 feet below the cliff, so temperatures at the rock run somewhat cooler. The Sutton - Neosho hike and the Ouray Perimeter Trail start within a quarter mile, and the Uncompahgre Gorge, also known as the Ouray Ice Park, is about 0.3 miles away. Four J Campground is under a mile off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Uncompahgre Gorge aka Ouray Ice ParkPhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Uncompahgre Gorge aka Ouray Ice Park

~0 min drive

2 trad routes at Uncompahgre Gorge / Ouray Ice Park in Colorado.

Coxcomb Peak

~16 min drive

Route to the summit of Coxcomb Peak (13,612 ft) from West Fork Cimarron River Trailhead.

Five Fingers areaPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Five Fingers area

~0 min drive

Five Fingers area in Colorado has 5 climbing routes with 2 difficulty grades.

Dallas Peak

~16 min drive

Route to the summit of Dallas Peak (13,675 ft) from Mill Creek Trailhead.

Jimmy CliffPhoto: Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Jimmy Cliff

~1 min drive

Jimmy Cliff in Colorado has 12 sport climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

Camp Bird Mine Rd/Mountain Rescue Cache CragPhoto: ranok, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Camp Bird Mine Rd/Mountain Rescue Cache Crag

~1 min drive

Camp Bird Mine Rd/Mountain Rescue Cache Crag in Colorado has 6 mixed climbing routes.

Randall's Badger Sanctuary aka Spider DenPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Randall's Badger Sanctuary aka Spider Den

~1 min drive

Randall's Badger Sanctuary (Spider Den) in Colorado has 7 sport routes rated from 5.10a to 5.12c.

Camp Bird RoadPhoto: Sale Family Memories, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Camp Bird Road

~4 min drive

Camp Bird Road in Colorado has 9 traditional climbing routes across 7 grades.

Technicolor Wall aka Techno CragPhoto: iagoarchangel, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Technicolor Wall aka Techno Crag

~5 min drive

Technicolor Wall (Techno Crag) in Colorado has 11 sport routes with 9 difficulty grades.

Waterfall WallPhoto: iagoarchangel, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Waterfall Wall

~5 min drive

Waterfall Wall in Colorado has 11 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.