West Facing
West Facing in Colorado has 5 sport climbing routes across 4 grades.
- 5 routes
- 5.11c – 5.13a
- Sport
Best time to visit West Facing
Best months: May–June and August–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
37° / 10°
8 wet
Feb
42° / 15°
7 wet
Mar
55° / 22°
7 wet
Apr
62° / 28°
9 wet
May
72° / 37°
9 wet
Jun
83° / 45°
6 wet
Jul
88° / 52°
9 wet
Aug
85° / 49°
9 wet
Sep
79° / 41°
8 wet
Oct
64° / 30°
8 wet
Nov
49° / 20°
7 wet
Dec
37° / 11°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rifle 3ene, CO, 10.7 mi away at 5,469 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
West Facing is a sport climbing area in Rifle Mountain Park, Colorado, on city-managed land. It sits within the park's climbing network, with the South Facing and Lower Tier areas each about 0.1 mile away. The routes here are all sport climbs, and they range from 5.11c to 5.13a. Five routes are listed, including Mike and Tate at 5.11c, Rigor Mortis at 5.12, and Eulogy at 5.13a. The area's grade range makes it a destination for climbers comfortable with 5.12 and 5.13. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 72°F in May to 79°F in September, while July highs average 88°F. That station sits about 1,500 feet lower than the park, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. Rifle Mountain Park campground is about 1.4 miles away, and the Bobcat Trail is about 1.6 miles off. Lakeview Campground and Main Elk Creek are both within about 8 miles.
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