Colorado · Rock climbing · Glenwood Springs

Zipper Buttress

Zipper Buttress in Colorado has 12 sport climbing routes on 8 difficulty grades.

12 routes
5.9 – 5.12b
Sport

Best time to visit Zipper Buttress

Best months: April–June and September–October. 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

    36° / 12°

    8 wet · 6 snow

  2. Feb

    42° / 19°

    6 wet · 4 snow

  3. Mar

    53° / 26°

    6 wet · 2 snow

  4. Apr

    60° / 32°

    7 wet · 1 snow

  5. May

    71° / 40°

    7 wet

  6. Jun

    82° / 46°

    5 wet

  7. Jul

    89° / 53°

    5 wet

  8. Aug

    86° / 52°

    6 wet

  9. Sep

    78° / 44°

    6 wet

  10. Oct

    65° / 33°

    6 wet

  11. Nov

    49° / 24°

    6 wet · 2 snow

  12. Dec

    36° / 15°

    7 wet · 4 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Glenwood Spgs #2, CO, 2.3 mi away at 5,895 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Zipper Buttress is a sport climbing area in Colorado, about half a mile from Glenwood Springs. It sits right next to The Neighborhood, another climbing area, and within a short walk of the Glenwood Canyon Trail and the Glenwood Canyon Bike Trail. The climbing here is all sport, with 12 routes ranging from 5.9 to 5.12b. The median grade is 5.10c, and the hardest route is a 5.12b called [Redacted]. Jeff Achey is the first ascender of several of the routes, including PBR at 5.9 and Hootenanny at 5.11b. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Glenwood Springs show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 78°F, while July averages about 89°F and winter brings frequent snow days. Glenwood Canyon Resort is about 1.4 miles away for camping, and the Glenwood Springs Area offers river fishing within half a mile.

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