The Shaft
The Shaft in Colorado has 13 sport climbing routes across 7 grades.
- 13 routes
- 5.10c – 5.12b
- Sport
Is Shaft, The open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 8 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Interlaken Hotel Tree Hazards
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Sharpe Fire Update
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Turquoise Lake Road (County Road 4) Closure
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Downed and weakened trees on South Platte Ranger District
Agency alert covering South Platte Ranger District · USFS · South Platte Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit The Shaft
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.
Jan
33° / 9°
Feb
34° / 11°
Mar
41° / 17°
Apr
47° / 23°
May
57° / 31°
Jun
69° / 41°
Jul
74° / 47°
Aug
71° / 45°
Sep
65° / 38°
Oct
54° / 27°
Nov
42° / 18°
Dec
33° / 12°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Divide 4nw, CO, 21.3 mi away at 9,134 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Shaft is a sport climbing area in Colorado, set within the South Platte Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests. The Forest Service manages the land. The climbing here is all sport, and the routes run from about 5.10c up to 5.12b, with the median grade at 5.11d. Among the 13 routes are Tip of the Shaft (5.10c), Vanadium (5.11d) and Gold (5.12b), all first ascents by Derek Lawrence and the Head Crew. The Shaft sits right beside the East Side Wall and West Side Wall climbing areas, both about a tenth of a mile away. For time off the rock, the Zinn Trail is roughly 0.4 miles off and Devils Head Campground lies about 1.1 miles away.
Routes (13)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)West Side Wall
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Photo: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)The Crimpfest Wall
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Photo: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Chicken Head Ranch
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Photo: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Devil's Head
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Photo: Ben Mason, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Sawblade Ridge
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Sawblade Ridge in Colorado has 9 sport climbing routes on 7 difficulty grades.
East Side Wall
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The Arena
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Black Wave Wall
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The Hangdog Cafe
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Hangdog Cafe, The in Colorado has 7 climbing routes.
