Sinking Sun
Sinking Sun in Colorado has 7 trad climbing routes across 5 grades.
- 7 routes
- 5.10 – 5.12-
- Trad
Is Sinking Sun 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 Sinking Sun
Best months: May–June 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.
Jan
37° / 16°
7 wet
Feb
38° / 16°
8 wet
Mar
45° / 21°
9 wet
Apr
52° / 26°
10 wet
May
61° / 35°
12 wet
Jun
74° / 43°
10 wet
Jul
80° / 48°
13 wet
Aug
78° / 46°
13 wet
Sep
70° / 39°
9 wet
Oct
57° / 30°
7 wet
Nov
44° / 23°
6 wet
Dec
36° / 16°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Estes Park 3 Sse, CO, 12.3 mi away at 7,812 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Sinking Sun is a climbing area in Colorado's Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, within the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land, and the area sits among several other climbing spots within a short distance. The climbing here is all trad, with seven routes ranging from about 5.10 to 5.12. The namesake route, Sinking Sun, is a 5.11, and others include City of Gold at 5.11 and Expanding Man at 5.12. The area is close to Horseshead and Palisade Mountain, each about a quarter mile away, and Becker Wall is about 0.3 miles off. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Estes Park show July highs around 80°F with lows near 48°F, and September highs around 70°F. Winter is cold, with January highs in the upper 30s. Nearby, the Round Mountain Nature Trail and The Monastery Trail are both hikes within about 3 miles. Paddlers can reach the Cache la Poudre River, roughly 6 miles away.
Routes (7)
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