Colorado · Rock climbing · Ophir Loop

The Slabs

6 traditional climbing routes on slab rock in Colorado.

The SlabsPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
6 routes
5.6 – 5.11+
Trad

Is Slabs, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Slabs, The, 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 The Slabs

No month here meets our mild-weather rule. 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° / -6°

    9 wet

  2. Feb

    36° / -3°

    9 wet

  3. Mar

    43° / 6°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    48° / 17°

    9 wet

  5. May

    58° / 25°

    9 wet

  6. Jun

    70° / 31°

    7 wet

  7. Jul

    75° / 38°

    13 wet

  8. Aug

    72° / 37°

    15 wet

  9. Sep

    66° / 30°

    12 wet

  10. Oct

    55° / 20°

    9 wet

  11. Nov

    43° / 7°

    8 wet

  12. Dec

    34° / -5°

    9 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Silverton, CO, 11.8 mi away at 9,285 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Slabs is a climbing area in the Norwood Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots, with Mirror Wall and East Buttress each about 0.1 mile away. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Silverton weather station, at a similar elevation, run to highs around 75°F in July and 72°F in August, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s and lows drop to about -6°F in January. Priest Lake Road, a cross-country ski route, is about 1.2 miles away, and the Matterhorn campground is about 1.4 miles off. For paddling, Lake Fork is about 2.6 miles away and the South Fork San Miguel River about 2.8 miles.

Routes (6)

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