Colorado · Rock climbing · Kremmling

The Shield

Shield, The in Colorado has 5 climbing routes with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

5 routes
5.8 – 5.11-
Mixed · Trad · Sport

Is Shield, The open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit The Shield

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

    28° / 7°

    8 wet

  2. Feb

    31° / 9°

    8 wet

  3. Mar

    40° / 15°

    8 wet

  4. Apr

    49° / 23°

    9 wet

  5. May

    59° / 30°

    10 wet

  6. Jun

    71° / 36°

    8 wet

  7. Jul

    77° / 42°

    9 wet

  8. Aug

    76° / 40°

    11 wet

  9. Sep

    68° / 34°

    8 wet

  10. Oct

    55° / 25°

    7 wet

  11. Nov

    39° / 16°

    8 wet

  12. Dec

    29° / 9°

    8 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Spicer, CO, 15.7 mi away at 8,385 ft. The station sits about 600 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.

The Shield is a climbing area in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, within the Yampa Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits among several other climbing spots and trails in the district. The climbing here is a mix of trad and mixed routes, with a few sport options. Five routes are listed, and they range from 5.8 to 5.11-. The Shield Traverse and Bat Crack are both trad routes, and Captain Trips, also known as Black Diamond, is a sport route at 5.10. The mixed routes Something on the Shield and Suzy Creamcheese top out at 5.10 and 5.11-. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Spicer, CO, run to highs around 77°F in July with lows near 42°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The Dome and Other Rose Dome are both climbing areas within about 2 miles. Sarvis Creek and Routt Divide are hikes a little farther out.

Routes (5)