Colorado · Rock climbing · Boulder

Third Buttress

Third Buttress in Colorado has 12 climbing routes across 9 grades, offering mixed and traditional styles.

Third ButtressPhoto: Mihnea Stanciu, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
12 routes
5.7 – 5.11+
Trad · Mixed

Best time to visit Third Buttress

Best months: April–June and September–October. 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

    47° / 21°

    6 wet

  2. Feb

    48° / 22°

    7 wet

  3. Mar

    57° / 29°

    8 wet

  4. Apr

    63° / 34°

    10 wet

  5. May

    71° / 43°

    12 wet

  6. Jun

    83° / 51°

    10 wet

  7. Jul

    88° / 57°

    11 wet

  8. Aug

    86° / 55°

    10 wet

  9. Sep

    79° / 48°

    8 wet

  10. Oct

    66° / 37°

    7 wet

  11. Nov

    54° / 28°

    6 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 21°

    6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Boulder, CO, 2.6 mi away at 5,484 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Third Buttress is a climbing area on city land in Colorado, about 0.1 mile from the Second Buttress and the Elephant Buttresses. The Fourth Buttress sits at the same distance, so the area is a cluster of buttresses rather than a single crag. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Boulder show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 79°F, with July peaking near 88°F. Boulder Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 0.2 mile away, and the Boy Scout Trail and Flagstaff Trail are both within a mile. For an overnight stay, Winiger Ridge campground is about 5.5 miles off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive