Climbing on White River National Forest land
243 crags on this site sit on ground White River National Forest manages, with 1,763 routes between them. Everything below is what White River National Forest itself states.
The forest around Rifle, Glenwood and the Elk Mountains, and the busiest national forest in the country. Its camping rules are stricter than the federal default in places, and it asks dispersed campers to pack out solid human waste rather than bury it.
What they require
- Rules
- The forest strongly recommends dispersed campers pack out solid human waste using an approved disposable or self-contained system rather than burying it in a cathole.
- Overnight
- Camping more than 14 days in any continuous 30-day period is prohibited, counted from the first day of occupancy. Some places allow dispersed camping only at designated sites and some run a shorter 7-day limit in summer.
Read against source 1, source 2, source 3 and checked 2026-09-29 by John Crawford. White River National Forest's own climbing page is the one to believe over this one.
A heading missing from that list is a question White River National Forest's pages don't answer, not a rule that doesn't exist. This page never says climbing is allowed somewhere — none of these pages says that either, and reading permission into a page's silence is how people end up somewhere they shouldn't be.
Where the line matters
15 of these crags have another manager's land within 250 m of their map point. A crag's map point is not the rock — it can be hundreds of metres out — so at those crags the wall itself may be on someone else's ground, under someone else's rules. Each crag's own page names the neighbour.
Independence Pass
- Upper Boulderfield aka Bulldog Boulders41 boulder problems · Upper Boulderfield Area
- Campsite 5 Area12 routes and 24 boulder problems · Lincoln Creek
- Lower Grotto Wall31 routes · Grotto Walls Area
- World of Hurt Bouldering17 boulder problems · Grotto Walls Area
- Goal Post Boulders16 boulder problems · Grottos Day Use Area
- Olympic Wall15 routes · Outrageous Overhangs Area
- Pass Walls15 routes
- Upper Bulldog Cliff14 routes · Upper Boulderfield Area
- Classy Cliff13 routes · Classy Cliff Area
- Dump Wall13 routes · Twin Lakes Area
- Thindependence12 routes · Outrageous Overhangs Area
- Difficult Wall aka Difficult Cliff11 routes · Difficult Campground
- Sunset Cliff11 routes · Lincoln Creek
- Gollum's Cave8 routes and 2 boulder problems · Grottos Day Use Area
- The Ice Caves2 routes and 8 boulder problems · Grottos Day Use Area
- Phat City10 routes · Lincoln Creek
- Reese's Pieces10 routes · Lincoln Creek
- Greg's Cliff10 routes · Ptarmigan Creek Area
- Pitbull Cliff10 routes · Upper Boulderfield Area
- Whirlpool Rock8 routes and 2 boulder problems
- Wild Rock10 routes · Wild Rock Area
- Designer Wall9 routes · Grottos Day Use Area
- Instant Karma Cliff9 routes
- Lincoln Creek Cliff9 routes · Lincoln Creek
- Jungle Wall9 routes · Ptarmigan Creek Area
- Turkey Rock9 routes · Upper Boulderfield Area
- Upper Pitbull Cliff8 routes · Upper Boulderfield Area
- Weller Slab8 routes
- Big Wild Boulder2 routes and 6 boulder problems · Wild Rock Area
- Nude Buttress7 routes · Grotto Walls Area
- Second Grotto Wall7 routes · Grotto Walls Area
- The Overlook7 routes · Overlook, The
- Baby Face7 routes · Pooh Corner Area
- Powerline7 routes
- Hurricane Wall7 routes · Ptarmigan Creek Area
- Bulldog Balcony7 routes · Upper Boulderfield Area
- Lower Bulldog Cliff7 routes · Upper Boulderfield Area
- The Wave7 routes · Wild Ridge Area
- Master Headwall6 routes · Classy Cliff Area
- Columbine Crag6 routes
- Campground Rock3 routes and 3 boulder problems · Lincoln Creek
- Jimmy Cliff6 routes · Lincoln Creek
- Treasure Chest6 boulder problems · Lincoln Creek
- North Boulders6 boulder problems
- Outrageous Overhang6 routes · Outrageous Overhangs Area
- Piranha Boulder6 boulder problems
- Pooh Corner6 routes · Pooh Corner Area
- Ivory Field5 boulder problems
- Finger Food Wall5 routes · Lincoln Creek
- Outhouse Wall5 boulder problems · Lincoln Creek
- Sunset Cantina5 routes · Lincoln Creek
- Squawk Rock5 routes · Ptarmigan Creek Area
- Storm Jumper Wall5 routes · Ptarmigan Creek Area
- Hernando's Hideaway4 boulder problems
- ICBJ Boulder4 boulder problems
- Jaws Boulder4 boulder problems
- Intruders4 boulder problems · Lincoln Creek
- Bedrock4 routes · Outrageous Overhangs Area
- Junior Olympic Wall4 routes · Outrageous Overhangs Area
- Dry Wall4 routes · Ptarmigan Creek Area
- Dog Wall4 routes · Upper Boulderfield Area
- The Coral4 routes · Wild Ridge Area
- Rip Rap4 routes · Wild Ridge Area
- James Brown Boulder4 boulder problems · Wild Rock Area
- Patrol Boulder3 boulder problems · Difficult Campground
- Eyebrow3 routes
- Opening Ceremony Wall3 routes · Outrageous Overhangs Area
- V23 routes · Outrageous Overhangs Area
- Kaos Wall3 routes · Ptarmigan Creek Area
- Watchtower Crag2 routes and 1 boulder problem
- Bart Boulder3 boulder problems · Wild Rock Area
- Yardstick Boulder3 boulder problems · Wild Rock Area
- Dragon Rock2 routes · Classy Cliff Area
- Third Grotto Wall2 routes · Grotto Walls Area
- Game Wall2 routes · Grottos Day Use Area
- Gem Stone Area2 routes · Upper Boulderfield Area
- Wall Walls East2 routes
- Wall Walls West2 routes
- Headlands2 routes · Wild Ridge Area
- Outer Banks2 routes · Wild Ridge Area
- Clarence Clemons Boulder2 routes · Wild Rock Area
- Diehard Cliff1 route
- The White Stripe Boulder1 boulder problem · Difficult Campground
- Mecca Wall and Killer Pillar1 route · Grotto Walls Area
- My Space Wall1 route · Grotto Walls Area
- River Boulder1 boulder problem · Lincoln Creek
- Sunset Boulder1 boulder problem · Lincoln Creek
- Guide Route1 route · Wild Ridge Area
- Wild Ridge1 route · Wild Ridge Area
- Wild Tower1 route · Wild Ridge Area
Eagle/Vail/Minturn/Red Cliff
- The Punchbowl20 routes · Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek)
- The Anti-Gravity Wall15 boulder problems · Gravity Garden aka The Mushroom Garden, The
- The Blank Check Wall15 routes · Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek)
- The Prow15 routes · Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek)
- Homestake Road Crag12 routes
- The Schoolyard12 routes · Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek)
- Napoleon Wall11 routes · Gilman Canyon
- The Whatchamacallit Boulder9 boulder problems · Gravity Garden aka The Mushroom Garden, The
- Endless Wall9 routes · Jellystone Park
- The Minturn Mile Boulder9 boulder problems · Klettergarden, The
- North Wall9 routes · Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek)
- Strategery Wall9 routes · Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek)
- The Magic Forest8 routes · Jellystone Park
- The Grove8 routes · Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek)
- Team Wall7 routes · Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek)
- Roof Rock7 routes
- Upper Tier Right6 routes · Hornsilver
- Boulder D aka Prominent Block6 boulder problems · Klettergarden, The
- The Exit Wall6 routes · Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek)
- Secret Stash6 routes · Lime Park (a.k.a. Lime Creek)
- Easter Egg Boulder5 boulder problems · Booth Creek Boulders
- The Mint Boulder5 boulder problems · Gravity Garden aka The Mushroom Garden, The
- Upper Tier Left5 routes · Hornsilver
- Boulder I aka Marshall's Boulder5 boulder problems · Klettergarden, The
- Lower Tier4 routes · Hornsilver
- Cross Creek3 boulder problems
- Boulder B aka Two Cylinder Boulder3 boulder problems · Klettergarden, The
- Giant Boulder Uphill From Minturn Mile Boulder3 boulder problems · Klettergarden, The
- The Cube2 boulder problems · Booth Creek Boulders
- Fraggle Rock2 routes
- Boulder C aka The Slab2 boulder problems · Klettergarden, The
- Boulder E aka The Machine Boulder aka Mile Boulder2 boulder problems · Klettergarden, The
- Trango Tower1 route · Gilman Canyon
- Boulder A1 boulder problem · Klettergarden, The
- Boulder G1 boulder problem · Klettergarden, The
- Tooth Fairy Boulder1 boulder problem · Klettergarden, The
- The Poo Cliff1 boulder problem · Vail Ski Resort · near a boundary
Carbondale Area
- Redstone Boulders35 boulder problems · Redstone Area · near a boundary
- Redstein22 routes · Redstone Area
- River Boulders21 boulder problems · Redstone Area · near a boundary
- Sanctuary20 boulder problems · Coal Creek Boulders
- The Skillet20 routes · Frying Pan, The
- Narrows Proper16 routes · Narrows, The · near a boundary
- Roadside Boulders15 boulder problems · Coal Creek Boulders
- The Front Porch11 routes · Narrows, The · near a boundary
- The Wall aka Breakfast Nook9 routes · Coal Creek Boulders
- Seven Castles9 routes · Frying Pan, The
- The Gash9 routes · Narrows, The
- The Schoolyard9 routes · Narrows, The · near a boundary
- Beginner's Luck Boulder8 boulder problems · Redstone Area · near a boundary
- The Industrial Wall7 routes · Narrows, The · near a boundary
- River Wall6 routes · Coal Creek Boulders
- The Watchtower6 routes · Narrows, The · near a boundary
- Rudy Boulders4 boulder problems · Frying Pan, The
- Lizard Lake Wall4 routes · Lizard Lake
- The Inertia Wall4 routes · Narrows, The
- Yonder Area3 routes · Frying Pan, The
- Low Hanging Fruit Wall3 routes
- Spider Wall2 boulder problems · Coal Creek Boulders
- The Outpost1 route · Frying Pan, The
- The Elemental Wall1 route · Redstone Area
Glenwood Springs
- Main Elk Crag65 routes · Main Elk Creek
- No Name Canyon34 routes and 12 boulder problems · Glenwood Canyon
- Pup Tent of Solitude45 routes · Main Elk Creek
- East Elk Granite25 routes · East Elk Creek
- Burro Wall20 routes · Main Elk Creek
- Fortress of Solitude20 routes · Main Elk Creek
- Shoshone Power Plant Area1 route and 18 boulder problems · Glenwood Canyon
- East Canyon11 routes · Glenwood Canyon
- Hogwarts10 routes · East Elk Creek
- Quartzite Wasteland9 routes · Glenwood Canyon
- The Airy Block8 routes · Glenwood Canyon
- Dead Horse Crag8 routes · Glenwood Canyon
- Fountain Buttress8 routes · Glenwood Canyon
- Grizzly Creek Wall (aka Mudwall)7 routes · Glenwood Canyon
- The Distillery5 routes and 1 boulder problem · East Elk Creek · near a boundary
- The Bypass4 routes · Glenwood Canyon
- The Homestead4 routes · Glenwood Canyon
- Windy Point2 routes · Main Elk Creek
- Cruiser Gully/Buttress1 route · Glenwood Canyon
- Hanging Lake Slab1 route · Glenwood Canyon
- International Buttress1 route · Glenwood Canyon
- Unknown Tower1 route · Glenwood Canyon
Keystone a.k.a. Montezuma
- Haus Rock27 routes and 1 boulder problem
- Oasis Boulder Area13 boulder problems · Hummingbird Boulders
- Zuma Rock13 routes
- Swan Mountain Road5 routes and 6 boulder problems
- Main Boulder, Hummingbird Boulders6 routes and 4 boulder problems · Hummingbird Boulders
- Lost Wall7 routes and 1 boulder problem · Loveland Pass Area
- The Alpenglow Wall7 routes · Alpenglow Wall, The
- Seam Boulder5 boulder problems · Hummingbird Boulders
- Hero Boulder4 boulder problems · Hummingbird Boulders
- Trail Boulder4 boulder problems · Hummingbird Boulders
- Landfill Road4 boulder problems
- Porcupine Rock4 routes
- Swan Mountain Cliffs4 routes
- Choss 30 aka 30 Rock aka Pimpin' Ain't Easy2 boulder problems · Hummingbird Boulders
- Humming Bird Boulder No. 2 (Tim's Finn)1 route and 1 boulder problem · Hummingbird Boulders · near a boundary
- Alpenglow Satellite Wall1 route · near a boundary
- Hummingbird Boulder #31 route · Hummingbird Boulders
- Hummingbird Boulder #41 route · Hummingbird Boulders
- Frozen Slab1 route · Loveland Pass Area
- Small Wall1 route · Loveland Pass Area
- Wanderer's Wall1 route
Alpine Rock
- Quandary Peak7 routes
- Capitol Peak4 routes
- Maroon Bells4 routes
- Tenmile Range Traverses4 routes · Tenmile Range
- Pyramid Peak3 routes
- Chimneys of Treasure2 routes
- Mount Silverthorne2 routes · Gore Mountain Range
- Peak C2 routes · Gore Mountain Range
- Mind Dump2 routes · Northstar Mountain
- Buffalo Mountain1 route · Gore Mountain Range
- Eagle's Nest1 route · Gore Mountain Range
- East Partner Peak (aka Peak V)1 route · Gore Mountain Range
- Peak L1 route · Gore Mountain Range
- Peaks X, Y, and Z1 route · Gore Mountain Range
- Valhalla Peak, Freya Tower1 route · Gore Mountain Range
- Valhalla Peak, Thor Tower1 route · Gore Mountain Range
- West Partner Peak1 route · Gore Mountain Range
- Fool's Peak1 route · Holy Cross Wilderness
- Gold Dust Peak1 route · Holy Cross Wilderness
- Mount of the Holy Cross1 route
10 Mile Canyon
- White Cliff19 routes
- Officer's Gulch West18 routes
- Sunshine Buttress (aka Wichita Wall)16 routes and 1 boulder problem
- The Dome14 routes · Dome, The
- Halfway Rock9 routes
- Teeter Top8 routes
- The Cache Wall6 routes · Cache Wall, The · near a boundary
- Officer's Wall5 routes · Diamond /Officer's Wall Massif, The
- Mount Royal (near Frisco)5 routes · near a boundary
- The Diamond Wall4 routes · Diamond /Officer's Wall Massif, The
- 10 Mile Tower1 route
- Brick Wall1 route · Brick Wall/Alcoves
- Wheeler Lakes1 route
Leadville
- Warrior's Wall8 routes · Camp Hale
- Mule Train Wall5 routes · Camp Hale
- Unknown Crag4 routes · Camp Hale
- Slab from Hell3 routes and 1 boulder problem · Hell's Gate/ Hagerman Pass
- Paramount Pinnacle3 routes · Camp Hale
- Artillery Wall2 routes · Camp Hale
- Piton Power Wall2 routes · Camp Hale
- Practice Wall2 routes · Camp Hale
- Hell's Gate2 routes · Hell's Gate/ Hagerman Pass
CO Ice & Mixed
Breckenridge
Cataract Lake (Heeney, Colorado)
Green Mountain Reservoir
Which crag sits on whose land comes from USGS PAD-US (public domain), read at each crag's map point. Every manager whose rules we've written down, and which ones we haven't. Closures are tracked separately and dated.