Colorado · Rock climbing · Basalt

The Skillet

Skillet, The in Colorado has 20 climbing routes across 12 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

20 routes
5.9 – 5.13a
Sport · Trad · Mixed

Is Skillet, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in White River National Forest. It doesn't name Skillet, The, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit The Skillet

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

    34° / 4°

  2. Feb

    36° / 6°

  3. Mar

    43° / 13°

  4. Apr

    51° / 21°

  5. May

    63° / 28°

  6. Jun

    75° / 34°

  7. Jul

    81° / 40°

  8. Aug

    80° / 39°

  9. Sep

    71° / 32°

  10. Oct

    61° / 23°

  11. Nov

    45° / 13°

  12. Dec

    34° / 5°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Meredith, CO, 8.3 mi away at 7,825 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Skillet is a climbing area in Colorado's White River National Forest, within the Sopris Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits close to the Fryingpan River, with the climbing at The Frying Pan just over a mile away. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 75°F in June to about 81°F in July, with July lows near 40°F. That station sits at a similar elevation to the area, so temperatures here should be in a similar range. The Skillet holds about 20 routes, with sport climbing making up the majority. The grades range from 5.9 up to 5.13a. Sport routes include Snag at 5.11b and Laser Beams at 5.13a. Trad climbers will find Angry Angler at 5.11c/d. The Frying Pan and Seven Castles are both within a few miles for more climbing.