Water Slabs
Water Slabs in Colorado has 8 climbing routes across 4 grades, offering sport and trad options.
- 8 routes
- 5.8 – 5.10-
- Sport · Trad
Is Water Slabs open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests · USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Caribou Road Closure Order
Agency alert covering Boulder Ranger District · Order 02-10-01-26-04 · USFS · Boulder Ranger District
Raptor Nesting Area Closure - Boulder Ranger District
Agency alert covering Boulder Ranger District · Order 02-10-01-26-06 · USFS · Boulder Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Water Slabs
Best months: May–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.
Jan
39° / 17°
5 wet
Feb
40° / 17°
5 wet
Mar
47° / 22°
6 wet
Apr
52° / 27°
8 wet
May
61° / 35°
10 wet
Jun
73° / 44°
9 wet
Jul
79° / 50°
10 wet
Aug
77° / 48°
11 wet
Sep
70° / 41°
8 wet
Oct
57° / 31°
6 wet
Nov
47° / 24°
5 wet
Dec
40° / 17°
5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gross Rsvr, CO, 5.9 mi away at 7,970 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Water Slabs is a climbing area in the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Universal Crag and Upper Dream Canyon both about 0.1 mile away. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 79°F with lows near 50°F, while winter highs stay in the low 40s. The Hawkins Surguine Spur Trail is about 1.7 miles away, and the Hawkins Surguine Spur mountain biking route is about 2 miles off. For an overnight stay, Winiger Ridge and Gordon Gulch campgrounds are both within about 5 miles.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: Jim Halligan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Lion's Den
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Thunder Point
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Oceanic Wall
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Oceanic Wall in Colorado has 22 climbing routes across 13 grades, offering bouldering, sport, and trad.
Lost Angel
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Lost Angel in Colorado has 55 climbing routes across 25 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.
Vanishing Point
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Vanishing Point in Colorado has 11 routes across 10 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad climbing.
Nickel Dome
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5 mixed and sport routes at Nickel Dome, Colorado, covering 3 difficulty grades.
Lower Dream Canyon
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Freedom Boulder
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Freedom Boulder in Colorado has 5 bouldering routes spanning 5 difficulty grades.
Boulder Falls East
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Boulder Falls East in Colorado has 6 routes with sport and trad options.
Boulder Slips
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