Good Bouldering: Flagstaff Mountain
Matt Swartz spending an afternoon bouldering on Flagstaff Mountain
Always wanted to go rock climbing but a little freaked out? Don’t worry–we’ve got you covered.
Colorado is a diverse state of dry foothills, dense forests, alpine tundra, and great exposed rock. The proximity of crags, cliffs and mountains to Denver and Boulder is just one reason that Colorado is regarded as one of the premiere climbing destinations in the US and even the world. Living in or around Denver puts this climbing at your finger tips (literally), with a lifetime’s worth of routes for the beginner and expert alike. Since it is so accessible, you can make a morning, day, or afternoon of it and still get back to your favorite watering hole to grab a few beers and tell your buddies about the epic route you just climbed.
A lot of people don’t get into rock climbing not for a fear of heights, but because the gear can get quite expensive. There are ways, however to experience the thrill of rock climbing without spending tons of money on gear. The easiest way to get started rock climbing is by going bouldering. Bouldering is the sport of climbing–you guessed it–boulders. “Problems” are what you must solve to get to the top. It’s a great way to get into climbing as it requires a minimum of gear (shoes, chalk, “crash pad”, spotter), and for those of you uncomfortable with heights, have no fear. Flagstaff Mountain has many low (5-8 ft) tall boulders to tests your prowess.
David Schlichter reaching the top of a bouldering "problem"
The boulders on Flagstaff Mountain are not difficult to find, some of them are just feet from the road. You can tell which rocks are often used for bouldering easily by looking for white chalk left over from the hands of previous climbers. There are easy routes, moderate routes, and hard routes to please all ability levels. To determine how hard a route is, try it out! The easiest routes aren’t very steep and have large handholds and footholds. The hardest routes are very steep and have tiny handholds and footholds. If you want more detailed information, click here for one of the best free resources for information on Flagstaff Mountain and an endless amount of other climbing-related info.
See you on the rocks!
-This article was written by Matt Swartz.
Directions: I-25 north to US-36 west. In Boulder, take Baseline Ave. west. Baseline will turn into Flagstaff Mountain Rd. Take this windy and steep drive up, up, up (and consider having your bro/bra drive so you can admire the beautiful views of Boulder). Parking for bouldering is along the road and at designated parking areas ($3 a day – per vehicle). For an extra challenge: bike there.
Gear: Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder can rent you all the gear you need. Crash pads are $15/day; climbing shoes are $10. Call ahead to ensure availability.
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