Colorado crags that stay shady almost all day in summer
The coolest rock in the state in July. Not literally sunless — at this latitude a north-facing wall still catches an hour or so early and late — but shaded through the whole middle of the day.
107 crags, worked out from the direction each wall faces and where the sun is on 15 July between 07:00 and 19:00.
| Crag | Faces | Sun on 15 Jul | Climbs | Rock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Hanging Fruit Wall Carbondale Area |
N | In shade all day | 3 routes | sandstone (Minturn and Belden Fms, with shale, limestone) |
| 268 Wall Golden |
N guidebook |
In shade all day | 2 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Bionic Crag Golden |
N | sun 18:20-18:40 | 6 routes | gneiss and schist |
| The Garden Wall Golden |
N | sun 18:20-18:40 | 6 routes | gneiss and schist |
| The Needles Alpine Rock |
N | sun 18:30-20:00 | 12 routes | quartzite (Uncompahgre Fm, with slate, phyllite) |
| Gunnison Mountain Park Picnic Area Gunnison |
N | sun 18:30-19:20 | 8 routes | granite (Granite of Taylor River, Middle Proterozoic) |
| The Twilight Zone Golden |
N guidebook |
sun 18:20-19:40 | 6 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Hueco Wall Naturita and Paradox Valley |
N | sun 18:30-18:50 | 4 routes | Kayenta Fm, Wingate Sandstone, and Chinle Fm |
| Rigid Designator Amphitheatre CO Ice & Mixed |
N | sun 18:30-19:50 | 1 route | arkose (Minturn Fm in west-central and south-central and other units, with conglomerate, shale) |
| The Canal Zone Golden |
N guidebook |
sun 06:20-06:30, sun 06:40-07:10, sun 18:20-19:20 | 27 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Little Crag Boulder |
N | sun 07:40-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 6 routes | granodiorite (Boulder Creek Granodiorite) |
| Spiral Staircase area CO Ice & Mixed |
N | sun 07:10-08:00 | 1 route | arkose (Minturn Fm in west-central and south-central and other units, with conglomerate, shale) |
| Merry Pranksters' Crag South Platte |
N | sun 07:00-07:10, sun 18:20-20:00 | 1 route | granite |
| The Dark Side Canon City |
N | sun 06:40-08:00, sun 19:10-19:40 | 67 routes | limestone |
| The Dark Side Telluride/Norwood area |
N | sun 07:10-08:20, sun 19:20-20:10 | 39 routes | mafic hypabyssal (Middle Tertiary intrusive rocks, with felsic hypabyssal) |
| Sleeping Beauty Boulder |
N | sun 06:20-08:00 | 34 routes | granodiorite (Boulder Creek Granodiorite) |
| Garden Party Wall Boulder |
N | sun 06:50-08:00, sun 19:20-19:50 | 5 routes | granodiorite (Boulder Creek Granodiorite) |
| Englemann Canyon (submitted as Ruxton Canyon, Manitou Springs) Colorado Springs |
N | sun 06:20-08:00 | 1 route and 3 boulder problems | Rocks of Pikes Peak Batholith (1000-m.y. age group) |
| The Sentinel South Platte |
N | sun 07:20-08:00, sun 18:20-20:00 | 4 routes | granite |
| The Shield Golden |
N guidebook |
sun 07:00-08:00 | 4 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Pyramid Boulder Morrison/Evergreen/Littleton |
N | sun 06:20-08:00 | 3 boulder problems | Quartz-feldspar gneiss |
| What's With all These Tiny Trees? (WWATTT) Morrison/Evergreen/Littleton |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-18:30 | 3 boulder problems | Quartz-feldspar gneiss |
| Mind Dump Alpine Rock |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 19:20-19:30 | 2 routes | Leadville Limestone, Williams Canyon Limestone , Manitou Limestone, and Sawatch Quartzite |
| Diagon Alley Boulder |
N | sun 06:30-08:00 | 2 boulder problems | granodiorite (Boulder Creek Granodiorite) |
| Cicada Rock Boulder |
N | sun 06:20-08:00 | 1 boulder problem | sandstone (Fountain Formation) |
| Piledriver Formation Golden |
N guidebook |
sun 06:40-08:00 | 1 route | gneiss and schist |
| Gateway Mesa Denver Metropolitan Area Bouldering and Buildering |
N | sun 06:30-07:10, sun 07:20-08:00, sun 18:20-20:00 | 8 boulder problems | Dawson Formation and Arapahoe Formation |
| Fountain Buttress Glenwood Springs |
N | sun 06:30-08:10 | 8 routes | Leadville Limestone, Williams Canyon Limestone , Manitou Limestone, and Sawatch Quartzite |
| Corridor Area Gross Reservoir |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-18:40 | 8 boulder problems | Boulder Creek Granodiorite |
| Lower Crag Steamboat Springs |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-18:40 | 7 routes | unconsolidated gravel (Gravels and alluviums) |
| Climbing Area 57 Buena Vista |
N | sun 06:30-08:10 | 5 routes | Elephant Rock Granite |
| Junction Boulder Empire |
N | sun 07:10-08:00, sun 18:30-19:30 | 4 boulder problems | Fan deposits |
| The Lair Empire |
N | sun 07:10-08:00, sun 18:30-19:30 | 4 routes | Fan deposits |
| Upper Crag Steamboat Springs |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-18:40 | 4 routes | unconsolidated gravel (Gravels and alluviums) |
| Trundle Wall Dumont vicinity |
N | sun 07:10-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 3 routes | Quartz-feldspar gneiss |
| Al Cap Empire |
N | sun 07:10-08:00, sun 18:30-19:30 | 3 routes | Fan deposits |
| East Buttress Empire |
N | sun 07:10-08:00, sun 18:30-19:30 | 3 routes | Fan deposits |
| Easter Island Pinnacle Empire |
N | sun 07:10-08:00, sun 18:30-19:30 | 3 routes | Fan deposits |
| Tall Boy Pinnacle and Moss Wall Colorado Springs |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-18:50 | 2 routes | Rocks of Pikes Peak Batholith (1000-m.y. age group) |
| Junction Rock Empire |
N | sun 07:10-08:00, sun 18:30-19:30 | 2 routes | Fan deposits |
| Mount of the Holy Cross Alpine Rock |
N | sun 06:30-08:10, sun 19:20-19:30 | 1 route | Biotitic gneiss, schist, and migmatite |
| Compensation Crag Empire |
N | sun 07:10-08:00, sun 18:30-19:30 | 1 route | Fan deposits |
| Wrong Block Empire |
N | sun 07:10-08:00, sun 18:30-19:30 | 1 route | Fan deposits |
| North Matthews-Winters Morrison/Evergreen/Littleton |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-18:50 | 1 boulder problem | Fountain Formation |
| Ulysse's Rock Morrison/Evergreen/Littleton |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-18:50 | 1 boulder problem | Fountain Formation |
| Sheeprock South Platte |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:20-20:00 | 42 routes | granite (Pikes Peak Granite) |
| Torture Chamber Fort Collins |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-19:50 | 31 routes and 8 boulder problems | sandstone (Dakota Sandstone) |
| The Great Black North Canon City |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:20-19:50 | 25 routes | limestone |
| Hallett Peak Alpine Rock |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 24 routes | granite (Silver Plume Granite) |
| Lover's Leap Morrison/Evergreen/Littleton |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-20:00 | 15 routes | Quartz-feldspar gneiss |
| Upper Bulldog Cliff Independence Pass |
N | sun 07:10-08:10, sun 18:30-19:20 | 14 routes | Granitic rocks of 1400-m.y. age group |
| Sherwood Forest Boulder |
N | sun 06:50-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 12 routes | granodiorite (Boulder Creek Granodiorite) |
| Lookout Mountain Crag Golden |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-19:50 | 12 routes | Gneiss |
| Fireblack Boulder Morrison/Evergreen/Littleton |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-19:00 | 12 boulder problems | Quartz-feldspar gneiss |
| Lover's Leap on Beaver Brook Golden |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-20:00 | 10 routes and 1 boulder problem | Boulder Creek Granodiorite |
| Putnam Basin Boulders Durango |
N | sun 07:20-08:20, sun 18:30-19:00 | 10 boulder problems | arkose (Cutler Fm, with siltstone, conglomerate) |
| Turkey Rock Independence Pass |
N | sun 07:10-08:10, sun 18:30-19:20 | 9 routes | Granitic rocks of 1400-m.y. age group |
| Pike's Peak Colorado Springs |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-20:00 | 5 routes and 3 boulder problems | Rocks of Pikes Peak Batholith (1000-m.y. age group) |
| Caddis Cliff Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10 | 8 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Deer Ridge Buttress Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-18:50 | 8 routes | Silver Plume Granite |
| Bulldog Balcony Independence Pass |
N | sun 07:10-08:10, sun 18:30-19:20 | 7 routes | Granitic rocks of 1400-m.y. age group |
| Saint Peter's Overlook Colorado Springs |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-19:30 | 6 routes | Rocks of Pikes Peak Batholith (1000-m.y. age group) |
| Bobcat Ridge Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10 | 6 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Round Mountain Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10 | 1 route and 5 boulder problems | gneiss and schist |
| Friendship Boulder Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-19:50 | 6 boulder problems | unconsolidated (Till of Bull Lake age) |
| Crimson Tide Wall Golden |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-19:30 | 6 routes | Gneiss |
| Higher Energy Crag Boulder |
N | sun 07:00-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 5 routes | granodiorite (Boulder Creek Granodiorite) |
| Catch and Release Crag aka Montreat Crag Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10 | 5 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Iron Buttress Golden |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:20-19:20 | 4 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Dog Wall Independence Pass |
N | sun 07:10-08:10, sun 18:30-19:20 | 4 routes | Granitic rocks of 1400-m.y. age group |
| Across From Cenotaph aka Sea of Tranquility Boulder |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 3 routes | granodiorite (Boulder Creek Granodiorite) |
| Goofy Spire Boulder |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-19:40 | 3 routes | granodiorite (Boulder Creek Granodiorite) |
| Island Rock Boulder |
N | sun 06:20-07:10, sun 07:20-08:00, sun 18:30-19:40 | 3 routes | granodiorite (Boulder Creek Granodiorite) |
| Pike's Peak CO Ice & Mixed |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-20:00 | 3 routes | Rocks of Pikes Peak Batholith (1000-m.y. age group) |
| [Redacted] Colorado Springs |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-20:00 | 3 routes | siliciclastic (Mesozoic and Paleozoic rocks) |
| Glen Comfort Crag Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10 | 3 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Glen Haven Picnic Area Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10 | 3 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Linger Longer Rock Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10 | 3 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Wishbone Ridge Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10 | 3 routes | gneiss and schist |
| The Talon Golden |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-19:20 | 3 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Peak C Alpine Rock |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 2 routes | Biotitic gneiss, schist, and migmatite |
| Mental Rock Boulder |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-19:50 | 2 routes | granodiorite (Boulder Creek Granodiorite) |
| Continuity Crag Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10 | 2 routes | gneiss and schist |
| Overbite Boulder Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-19:50 | 2 boulder problems | unconsolidated (Till of Bull Lake age) |
| Glenwood Springs Buildering Glenwood Springs |
N | sun 07:10-08:10, sun 18:30-20:10 | 2 routes | shale (Belden Fm, with limestone, sandstone) |
| Beaverbrook Trail Boulders Golden |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-20:00 | 2 boulder problems | Biotite gneiss and schist with garnet |
| Gem Stone Area Independence Pass |
N | sun 07:10-08:10, sun 18:30-19:20 | 2 routes | Granitic rocks of 1400-m.y. age group |
| Main Buttress Silver Basin |
N | sun 06:30-08:10, sun 18:30-18:40 | 2 routes | Granitic rocks of 1700-m.y. age group |
| Peaks X, Y, and Z Alpine Rock |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10, sun 19:20-20:00 | 1 route | Biotitic gneiss, schist, and migmatite |
| Pettingell Peak Alpine Rock |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 1 route | Silver Plume Granite |
| Isolation Peak Alpine Rock |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 1 route | granite (Silver Plume Granite) |
| Forgotten Ridge Boulder |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 1 boulder problem | sandstone (Fountain Formation) |
| Lookout Mountain Dry Tooling Area CO Ice & Mixed |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-19:50 | 1 route | Gneiss |
| Cataract Lake (Heeney, Colorado) Cataract Lake (Heeney, Colorado) |
N | sun 06:40-08:00, sun 18:30-19:00 | 1 route | Biotitic gneiss, schist, and migmatite |
| Avery Peak Crested Butte |
N | sun 07:20-08:10, sun 18:30-20:00 | 1 route | arkose (Maroon Fm, with siltstone, conglomerate) |
| The Poo Cliff Eagle/Vail/Minturn/Red Cliff |
N | sun 06:40-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10, sun 19:20-19:50 | 1 boulder problem | arkose (Minturn Fm in west-central and south-central and other units, with conglomerate, shale) |
| Daryle's Rock Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:30-19:10 | 1 route | gneiss and schist |
| Rainbow Rock Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-20:00 | 1 route | Silver Plume Granite |
| Humiliation Boulder Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-19:50 | 1 boulder problem | unconsolidated (Till of Bull Lake age) |
| Smuggler's Cove Estes Park Valley |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:30-19:50 | 1 boulder problem | unconsolidated (Till of Bull Lake age) |
| Goose Creek South Platte |
N | sun 06:20-08:00, sun 18:20-19:10 | 1 boulder problem | Pikes Peak Granite |
| Kat's Tower South Platte |
N | sun 06:30-08:00, sun 18:20-20:00 | 1 route | granite (Pikes Peak Granite) |
| Ray Motel Boulders Naturita and Paradox Valley |
N | sun 06:50-08:20, sun 18:30-20:10 | 9 boulder problems | Morrison Fm, Summerville Fm, and Entrada Sandstone |
| La Plata Alpine Rock |
N | sun 06:30-08:10, sun 18:30-19:30 | 2 routes | Granitic rocks of 1700-m.y. age group |
| Stolen Lands Buttress Ouray vicinity (rock) |
N | sun 06:40-08:10, sun 18:30-20:10 | 2 routes | Ash-flow tuff of main volcanic sequence |
| Crestolita Alpine Rock |
N | sun 06:30-08:10, sun 18:20-20:00 | 1 route | conglomerate (Sangre de Cristo Fm, with sandstone, siltstone) |
| Flag Rock San Luis Valley |
N | sun 06:30-08:10, sun 18:20-19:30 | 1 route | Ash-flow tuff of main volcanic sequence |
What this list doesn't know
- Shade from the surrounding terrain is counted where we've measured it, which is most of this list — the rows marked aspect only are the exceptions. For those we use the direction the wall faces and nothing else, so a wall deep in a canyon may be shaded by the opposite rim long before this says it is. Even where terrain is counted we measure the skyline within 3 km and work from bare ground, so trees on the rim and a distant range are not in it.
- 1,012 of 2,256 Colorado crags have no aspect on record, so they can't appear here. A crag missing from this list has not been checked and found unsuitable — we simply don't know which way it faces.
- Sun is not the same as warm, and shade is not the same as cool. Altitude, wind and the day's weather decide that. Check the crag's page for current conditions before you drive.
Wall directions come from a guidebook where one says so, and otherwise are measured from USGS elevation data. How sure are we?