Colorado · Rock climbing · Kim

The Vortex Boulder and Padilla Boulder

6 routes at Vortex Boulder and Padilla Boulder, Colorado, ranging from 3 difficulty grades.

6 routes
V1 – V5
Bouldering

Is Vortex Boulder and Padilla Boulder, The open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 7 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit The Vortex Boulder and Padilla Boulder

Best months: April–May 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° / 17°

    3 wet · 2 snow

  2. Feb

    50° / 20°

    3 wet · 2 snow

  3. Mar

    60° / 28°

    4 wet · 1 snow

  4. Apr

    67° / 37°

    5 wet · 1 snow

  5. May

    77° / 47°

    6 wet

  6. Jun

    89° / 58°

    6 wet

  7. Jul

    93° / 63°

    7 wet

  8. Aug

    90° / 61°

    6 wet

  9. Sep

    83° / 52°

    4 wet

  10. Oct

    71° / 37°

    3 wet

  11. Nov

    57° / 27°

    3 wet · 1 snow

  12. Dec

    47° / 18°

    3 wet · 2 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at La Junta 20 S, CO, 9.9 mi away at 4,210 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Vortex Boulder and Padilla Boulder are two bouldering areas in the Comanche Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado. The Forest Service manages the land, and the two boulders sit among a cluster of other climbing spots in this corner of the district. Bouldering is the style here, with six routes in total. Five of them sit on the V1 grade, and two reach V5. The routes include Fat Finger Slim, OW Crack, Right Overhang and Walk Outside, along with the harder Center Overhang Direct and Left Overhang Direct. The most comfortable months are typically May and September, when typical averages from a nearby weather station at La Junta run from highs of about 77°F in May to 83°F in September. July is the hottest month, with typical highs around 93°F. Misson Boulders and Picket Wire Canyon both lie about 0.1 mile away, Scorpio Crag is about 0.3 mile off, and Withers Canyon Trailhead is roughly 1.7 miles away.

Routes (6)