Colorado · Rock climbing · Allenspark

Zappa's Tooth

Zappa's Tooth in Colorado has 8 traditional climbing routes on a tooth-shaped rock formation.

8 routes
5.8 – 5.9
Trad

Is Zappa's Tooth open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

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

Best time to visit Zappa's Tooth

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

    32° / 14°

  2. Feb

    35° / 15°

  3. Mar

    42° / 20°

  4. Apr

    46° / 23°

  5. May

    56° / 32°

  6. Jun

    69° / 38°

  7. Jul

    74° / 44°

  8. Aug

    73° / 43°

  9. Sep

    66° / 36°

  10. Oct

    52° / 29°

  11. Nov

    41° / 20°

  12. Dec

    33° / 14°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Allenspark 3nw, CO, 3.8 mi away at 8,500 ft. The station sits about 600 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.

Zappa's Tooth 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 The Ironclads about 0.8 miles away and Mount Boner about 0.9 miles away. The area is a trad climber's playground, with eight routes all rated in the 5.8 to 5.9 range. Flakes and Spinach is my New Lettuce are both 5.8, and Dirty Love and Sheik Yerbouti are 5.9. The routes are all traditional, and the hardest is about a 5.9. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Allenspark, which sits a few hundred feet lower than the area, show July highs around 74°F with lows near 44°F, while winter highs stay around freezing. Olive Ridge Campground is about 2.7 miles away, and Middle Saint Vrain Creek offers paddling about 2.2 miles off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive