Colorado · Rock climbing · Cañon City

West Bend Crag

West Bend Crag in Colorado has 8 climbing routes with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

West Bend CragPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
8 routes
5.9 – 5.11b
Mixed · Trad · Sport

Is West Bend Crag open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in San Carlos Ranger District. It doesn't name West Bend Crag, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · San Carlos Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit West Bend Crag

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.

  1. Jan

    40° / 8°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    42° / 12°

    5 wet

  3. Mar

    50° / 20°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    56° / 26°

    7 wet

  5. May

    66° / 33°

    7 wet

  6. Jun

    77° / 41°

    7 wet

  7. Jul

    81° / 45°

    11 wet

  8. Aug

    78° / 44°

    11 wet

  9. Sep

    72° / 37°

    6 wet

  10. Oct

    61° / 26°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    49° / 17°

    4 wet

  12. Dec

    40° / 8°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Westcliffe, CO, 17.1 mi away at 7,873 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

West Bend Crag is a climbing area in the San Carlos Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Hueco Wall and Oak Creek Canyon both about 0.1 mile away. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Westcliffe weather station show July highs around 81°F with lows near 45°F, while September cools to highs around 72°F. Winter is cold, with January highs near 40°F and lows around 8°F. Oak Creek Campground is about 1.3 miles away, and the Lion Canyon hike is about 1.5 miles off. Tanner Dome, another climbing area, is about 0.6 mile away.