Colorado · Rock climbing · Conifer

West Face

West Face in Colorado has 5 climbing routes spanning 5 grades, offering bouldering and trad options.

West FacePhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
5 routes
5.8 – 5.10-
Trad · Bouldering

Is West Face open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 8 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 West Face

Best months: June–July and 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

    38° / 9°

    4 wet

  2. Feb

    40° / 10°

    5 wet

  3. Mar

    48° / 18°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    54° / 23°

    7 wet

  5. May

    63° / 31°

    8 wet

  6. Jun

    75° / 38°

    8 wet

  7. Jul

    79° / 44°

    12 wet

  8. Aug

    77° / 43°

    13 wet

  9. Sep

    71° / 35°

    7 wet

  10. Oct

    59° / 24°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    45° / 16°

    4 wet

  12. Dec

    37° / 9°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bailey, CO, 12.4 mi away at 7,752 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

West Face is a climbing area in the South Platte Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking spots, with Chair Rocks about half a mile away and Product Boulder and the Cynical Trail within a mile. The area has five routes, four of which are trad climbs with grades from 5.8 to 5.10-, and one boulder problem at V1. The trad routes include Space Walls (5.8), Bog Crack (5.9) and Shoot Low, Boys! (5.10-), all first ascended by Jacob Martin and Daniel Hassell. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from the nearby Bailey weather station, at a similar elevation, run from highs around 75°F in June to about 79°F in July, with September easing back to around 71°F. Winter is cold, with January highs near 38°F and lows around 9°F. Nearby, Osprey Campground and Buffalo Campground offer camping within about 6.5 miles, and West Resort Creek is about 4.4 miles away for paddling.

Routes (5)