Thistle Crack
Entry-level alpine climb among six routes at The Left Side.
- 5.9
- grade
- Alpine No Fixed
- style
Is Thistle Crack open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Leadville Ranger District. It doesn't name Thistle Crack, so check the source for the area it covers.
Willow Fire Area Closure
Agency closure covering Leadville Ranger District · Order 02-12-01-26-39 · USFS · Leadville Ranger District
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Interlaken Hotel and Annex Area closure
Agency alert covering Leadville Ranger District · Order 02-12-01-26-19 · USFS · Leadville Ranger District
Interlaken Hotel Tree Hazards
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Sharpe Fire Update
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Leadville Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Thistle Crack
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.
Jan
27° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Feb
29° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Mar
35° / 8°
14 wet · 14 snow
Apr
40° / 15°
13 wet · 13 snow
May
49° / 25°
10 wet · 8 snow
Jun
61° / 34°
8 wet · 2 snow
Jul
67° / 40°
13 wet
Aug
64° / 39°
15 wet
Sep
58° / 32°
11 wet · 2 snow
Oct
47° / 21°
9 wet · 7 snow
Nov
35° / 11°
12 wet · 12 snow
Dec
27° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 16.4 mi away at 11,344 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
One of six routes catalogued at The Left Side, this climb sits at the entry level of the crag's 5.9–5.10d range. An alpine line with no fixed protection.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)A Massive Pain in the ASS
~14 min drive
A Massive Pain in the ASS is a climbing area in Colorado with 8 routes.
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Upper Tier Right
~25 min drive
Upper Tier Right in Colorado has 6 mixed and sport climbing routes across 5 difficulty grades.
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Hornsilver
~25 min drive
Hornsilver in Colorado has 4 routes with sport and trad options.
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Roof Rock
~25 min drive
Roof Rock in Colorado has 7 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad options.
Hell's Gate/ Hagerman Pass
~3 min drive
8-route climbing area in Colorado with bouldering pads, mixed, and trad.
That's No Moon Boulder
~13 min drive
That's No Moon Boulder in Colorado has 5 bouldering routes across 3 grades.
The Blank Check Wall
~20 min drive
Blank Check Wall, The in Colorado has 15 sport climbing routes.
The Punchbowl
~20 min drive
Punchbowl, Colorado has 20 sport climbing routes across 16 difficulty grades.
The Magic Forest
~20 min drive
Magic Forest, The in Colorado has 8 sport climbing routes on 6 difficulty grades.
Strategery Wall
~20 min drive
Strategery Wall in Colorado has 9 sport climbing routes spanning 9 difficulty grades.
