Rick Thompson and Bob D'Antonio both recently published updated guidebooks (2018). Rifle Mountain Park, Colorado / G3, Section M, The Funny Face, Kubricks Rock Climbing Guides . 60-degree sunny days are a common occurrence. Climbing Guide Books Neptune has one of the most extensive offerings of rock climbing guide books in the country. Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2011. Areas Covered. Love this book. Pueblos Gringos (5.10a/b) is super polished but super fun, while Menses (5.10d) lets you test your sloper technique. Camping. And The Lost Cajun is great on a cold day when gumbo, jambalaya, or lobster bisque will really hit the spot. Learn basic rock climbing skills, including equipment, knots, belaying, descending, and climbing movement. Psst…I’ll let you in on a little secret. Be in the know and climb like a local. Take the exit for Cañon City, and once you get to town, go north on Raynolds Avenue. We want to climb at both shelf road and penitente canyon. For this sun-lover, it’s simply heaven. Shelf road is on BLM property and is free for day use, car camping can be had the the Bank or Sand Gulch campgrounds. However visiting for the first time, I had the hardest time orienting myself to the crags and specific climbs. The Bank and Cactus Cliff see more traffic and many of the 5.8s and lower get pretty slick. This is considered to be one of the best sport climbing areas in the state. Nearby campgrounds make overnight trips easy and fun! Rock & Ice #103 [October 2000] (the one with Josune Bereziartu on the cover) has a mini-guide to the new areas, which are not yet covered in any guidebook. Now this is far from my first guide book and I've played the hunting game before, but for some reason this one was just really difficult to find anything. 115455 Features: Specifications: Pages: 256 ISBN-13: 978-1450711647 Publisher: K Daniels Associates Cover: Paperback. TO ERR IS HUMAN… I’ve been publishing guidebooks for 20 years, and have certainly published a few errors over that time. Sometimes I come here just to be a top rope hero (especially while I was recovering from my climbing accident). It twists north from Canon City along Fourmile Creek through valleys and canyons. Curbside Pickup Available NOW! The crisp limestone cliffs boast high friction and every style of line; from juggy overhangs, to technical edging test-pieces, to some tenuous slabs, and even a few jam cracks! Some of the first bolts are dizzyingly high here. 60-degree sunny days are a common occurrence. There was a problem adding this item to Cart. Shelf Road can be reached by US 50. ($10 per night or $20 for the group site). Horseback The Sand Gulch campground has the trailheads for Sand Gulch, The Far Side, and Menses Prow. If you’re making your first visit to Shelf Road, here are some tips for getting the most out of your climbing trip: Rock climbing at Shelf Road lets you enjoy outdoor crags year-round in Colorado. Shelf Road is a 4 wheel drive route - rough, rugged, back country, mountainous drive. The scenery is beautiful, and it's fairly common to see some Big Horn Sheep along the way. Any sport route in the 5.10 range or lower. When winter approaches and the temps cool down, climbers from the Front Range flock to the warm weather haven of Shelf Road. I love hearing from my community about all the badass adventures. From November through early May, Shelf Road comes to life. Mountain Project doesn’t do the best job with this area. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Fill out your email below to get exclusive access to the ultimate Colorado packing list! Long bands of limestone tower above the road and line the rims of nearby canyons. Rock Climbing Colorado: A Guide To More Than 1,800 Routes (State Rock Climbing Series) Stewart M. Green. The Access Fund recently purchased land which contains 100+ routes that weren't open as recently as 1999. Unable to add item to List. ;). More than 1000 routes, from 5.5 to 5.13c , spread over many crags Bolting : big run out climbing The road through the canyons invol… 4.2 out of 5 stars 16. The Gallery is made up of Menses Prow, The Far Side, and Mural Wall. Turn right on Fields and head north for 13 mi (21 km). Shelf Road is one of my favorite climbing places in the western US and is truly a hidden gem! Download MJM & RAMM's rock climbing PDF's below. With well over 1000 routes, it has something for everyone. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. However, the best times for climbing fall between April and October. Tits Up (5.12b) rewards fancy footwork while The French Are Here (5.12c) is more powerful. Please try your search again later. One of Colorado’s largest sport climbing destinations, Shelf Road offers a multitude of stellar rock climbs on some fascinating Limestone cliffs. My personal favorite area is "The Gallery" and "The Bank." Managed by the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, Shelf Road is visited primarily for its world-class rock climbing and proximity to the Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway. This is the worst guide book I've ever used. Know the regulations and special concerns for the area where you plan to climb. Everyone loves Shelf! Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. About Shelf Road: A sport climber's mecca with nearly 1000 routes on bombproof pocketed limestone. Shelf Road is one of the most popular sport climbing areas in Colorado, and one of the oldest in the country. The road provides access to an important rock-climbing area and the renowned Garden Park Fossil Area and parallels the stream of … The color topos are ok, the the different colors used for the route numbers don't seem to correspond to anything. This impressively thorough guide features 1150 routes—an increase of almost 300 routes over the previous edition—scattered throughout the remarkable limestone canyons of one of America’s leading sport climbing destinations. Shelf Road climbing is the best in the fall, winter, and spring. And with thousands of routes, I’ve spent several years investigating the best Shelf Road rock climbing. Shelf Road is secluded, rural, and has great climbing. I hear he's a nice guy, but he's a terrible guide book writer. Three-Quarter Ton (5.10b/c) is a fantastic flaky climb that a 5.10 leader will love. Plan Ahead And Prepare. Rock Climbing Shelf Road (Regional Rock Climbing Series) Mark Van Horn. It also has several 5.10s to warm up on, but it isn’t the best crag for beginners. Suburbia is a stellar climb (5.10b/c), but be solid at the grade because the bolting can be heady. There are so many areas to choose from and it has a great diversity of route levels (mostly sport routes). This area is for the adventuresome familiar with Colorado's unpredictable, ever changing climate. It’s best to use this guide to Shelf Road rock climbing and pick up a comprehensive guide book – Shelf Road Rock. Summary . The few ads don't bother me. Shelf Road, and even Clear Creek Canyon, you can rock climb in Colorado year-round. From November through early May, Shelf Road comes to life. Cañon City Brews & Bikes offer local beers on tap alongside burgers and sandwiches. Corrections to Rick Thompson's Shelf Road Rock. Please try again later. 1.0 out of 5 stars 1. In fact, as one of the best climbing areas in Colorado, Shelf is locally treasured by climbers all over the Front Range. Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2016, Worth every single penny! Food & Drink As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Enterprise (5.9+) is an excellent warm-up before moving on to harder stuff. The Access Fund recently purchased land which contains 100+ routes that weren't open as recently as 1999. The other good guides are Shelf Road Rock by Fred Knapp and Rock Climbing Shelf Road by Mark Van Horn. If you’re climbing at The Bank or Cactus Cliff, The Bank Campground is where you’ll start your approach hike from. The Bank campground was expanded with an entirely new loop in 2019, nearly doubling the sites available. Shocked to see a one star review. Climbing out at shelf road with some new friends, Larissa, Arrington, Matt, Leslie, Scott, and Andrew. However, after you’re cozy outside, there are a lot of routes to get excited about. Here are some of the best areas to climb at Shelf Road: With a huge range of great climbs, The Bank is one of the most popular areas at Shelf Road. Paperback. Check out First Blood (5.8) for a cool warm-up crack. The color pictures help find features to identify the actual climbs, though this challenge is always part of the fun. Shelf Road Recreation Area . BRAND NEW BOOK! There are several walls in neighboring areas and a lifetime of bouldering. 2015 BLM Annual Report of Rocky Mountain Field Institute Stewardship . Local Tip: Crack climbing at Shelf Road is a painful, sharp experience. Shelf Road has two scenic campgrounds that operate on a first-come first-served basis and have a nightly fee. When you start walking from The Bank parking area, you’ll turn a corner and the road and see Cactus Cliff beckoning across the way. For climbs in the 5.11-5.12 range, The Gym is the place to be. Shelf is almost completely sport climbing – trad climbing here is dangerous due to brittle limestone – and there is a small section of boulders as well. It seemed great, but somewhat confusing maps/photos. This means it is also usually super busy! Meg aka Fox is a 30-something who's born to explore. For a fun warm-up, La Cholla Jackson (5.8) delivers. I absolutely love the full color photos, and the fact that everything has been photographed. Now you're ready to travel like a local, not a tourist. chucky This limestone mecca has so much to offer that you can always find excellent rock climbing at Shelf Road. Forget about those loose, sketchy, tiresome climbers trails. If you want to test your vertical 5.12 skills, The Mural (5.12b) is a classic. Sand Gulch is a moderate paradise, with climbs ranging from 5.8-5.12. GAMAGO Adhesive Bandages - Set of Individually Wrapped Self Adhesive Bob Ross, 18 Count, Happy Little Accidents: The Wit & Wisdom of Bob Ross. Had no problem finding trail heads and walls. Shelf isn’t exactly the ideal place for your first outdoor lead. The book is also heavier and thicker than need be because it includes numerous gratuitous essays, color photos of people climbing (with their names and the route names almost impossible to read) and lots of ads. There are simply too many climbs and not enough photos to get oriented. Shelf Road Climbing: A Complete Guide takes you through the spectacular high-desert crags with captivating views of snowcapped peaks. 10/10 would purchase again. Because each area encompasses a lot of climbs, you’ll find routes for a variety of grade levels at most crags. Lime Street (5.11b) is a more technical 5.11 with a burly compression finish, and No Rest For the Wicked (5.12a/b) is an excellent climb if you want to push your grade into the 12s. Shelf Road is very dog-friendly, so bring your furry crag buddy along! The crags of Shelf Road offer spectacular high-desert settings with captivating views of snowcapped peaks. Most of the cliffs are vertical with pocketed limestone but you will find one or the other crack (and even some trad or mixed routes) in between. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. About this Guide to Rock Climbing in Colorado. It is free to walk the bridge itself, and you can also pay for a gondola or zip line ride. Gen X ation aka Musso Route (5.10d) provides sustained 5.10 climbing on a great face. Stored in a 100% Smoke Free Environment! Have found a few discrepancies with bolt counts but overall it has been great. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. With an entire blog dedicated to getting outside just like a local, I’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide to rock climbing at Shelf Road. Scattered throughout the remarkable, scenic limestone canyons of one of America’s leading sport climbing destinations, this guide features climbs from 5.4 to 5.14! Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2016. Im looking for some area favorites for both places. The warm climate makes this spot great for climbing any time of year. Shelf Road Colorado. Cactus Cliff, and The Bank are the best areas for beginners. The area is split into a few different walls which face different directions, making it easy to seek out shade or sun. Then turn left on Pear Street and drive to Fields Avenue. Canon City built this toll road back in 1892. The overview map of the area lists main walls but doesn't show the individual sections as they are organized in the rest of the book. Each winter, climbers transition from the cracks at Indian Creek and the canyons of the Colorado foothills to some of the best limestone in the country. Stout moves off the ground can lead to deck falls. For the uninitiated, near-vertical walls with high first clips are a bit intimidating. Never mind all the incorrect (or missing) grades on routes; that can happen in any guidebook. Limestone walls are lined with endless sport routes in a beautiful desert landscape. This edition features more than 1200 routes—an increase of more than 100 new routes over the previous edition. This area gets tons of sun and truly has something for everyone, from 5.7 to 5.14. Get the FREE Colorado trip planning checklist and get the inside scoop on hiking, camping, climbing, and more in the great Centennial State. Note: This website participates in affiliate marketing. All suggestions would be greatly appreciated. That means if you click on some of the links and purchase something, I get a small kickback at no added cost to you. Description The Shelf Road is a limestone sport climbing destination in southern Colorado offering mostly single pitch sport climbs. Explore the outdoors in Colorado like a local, not a tourist. Flakeus Maximus (5.11a) is amazing, especially if you love crack. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Shelf Road is one of the most popular sport climbing areas in Colorado. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. From our local crags all over Colorado to the most popular climbing areas throughout North America, Europe, Australasia and South America. It is located in south central Colorado, north of Canon City. The Far Side and Menses Prow have more moderates, while Mural Wall is known for its 5.12 test pieces. Your question might be answered by sellers, manufacturers, or customers who bought this product. We are planning a 4 day trip to CO towards the end of may. Cañon City is the closest town to Shelf, and though it’s pretty small, you can totally find some yummy places to eat or grab a beer. Overall, I hate this guide and I will never buy another by this author. November 19, 2015 . While you're waiting why not follow me on socials? A crack climber stuck in a sport climbing area will feel right at home on I Claudius (5.11a). Crynoid Corner (5.7) is a cool dihedral at the end of the cliff that makes a wonderful beginner lead. The Gym Arete (5.12a) offers tough but great face climbing, and you can get your steep fix on The Ejection Seat (5.12b/c) and Head Cheese (5.12d). Shelf Road follows the old stagecoach route to Cripple Creek. Jasonbecker.com (5.10-) offers fun moves to introduce yourself to climbing at The Bank. This limestone mecca has so much to offer that you can always find excellent rock climbing at Shelf Road. Get organized with local advice on what to pack for your awesome Colorado adventure. The vast expanse of Shelf Road rock is split into lots of areas, and some of these crags are pretty huge. Shelf Road climbing access is well-developed and easy to navigate. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Local Tip: The rock at Shelf is sharp, so be sure to bring your hand salve if you’re planning to spend a few days there. (Psst, perfect if you've just moved to CO too!). Alternatively, offer up your rope and bring along a more experienced friend. If you’re nervous, bring a stick clip. Please try again. Rock Climbing Shelf Road (FalconGuide) - If you climb Shelf, you need a new guidebook. Her mission is to get you out on your greatest adventure. Routes vary from 5.7- 5.13 mostly bolted routes with lots of untouched rock! Please try again. There was a problem completing your request. Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2012. Our favorite way of ending a great weekend of climbing at Shelf, is to follow Shelf Road on up through the canyon to Cripple Creek. If you need a rest day from climbing, but still want to spend time outside, visit Royal Gorge in Cañon City. 11 offers from $64.95. Great book, an essential for any trip to Shelf Road. Climbers can find solitude or a happy hour atmosphere, sun or … There are over 1,000 routes in this book. For more, see the Fox in the Forest Privacy Policy. Freeform (5.12a) is a fantastic route that requires both strength and technique. 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. Use the Shelf Road Climbing guidebook to get oriented and stay found. The four-hour “Vertical Limit” climbing trip offers lots of climbing, and is tailored to any skill level for beginner through advanced climbers. Cover is Brand New - Pages are Clean, Crisp and Untouched- Perfect Inside and Out. It’s been a decade since the last Sharp End guide to Shelf Road was published, but the wait has been worth it! Paperback. Shop for Climbing Guidebooks at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Local Tip: Take your battered body and sore muscles to soak in one of the two hot springs nearby, Desert Reef Hot Springs in Florence or Dakota Hot Springs in Penrose. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. The two campgrounds are far enough away that you will need to drive from one to the other. She'd rather be dirty than done up. Head to the popular Shelf Road Climbing Area where you’ll find hundreds of quality sport routes on quality, vertical limestone. $31.70. As an absolute outdoor PRO (seriously, I get paid to write about the outdoors) and Colorado local of over 12 years, you've found the best outdoor blog on the internet. Sent Fast! Use your strength on Muscle Beach (5.11a) or Lats Don’t Have Feelings (5.11d). Local Tip: The Sand Gulch campground just has a single pit toilet for everyone, while The Bank campground has two pit toilets near the campground and an additional two at the large parking lot. You’ll find two main campgrounds at Shelf Road – The Bank and Sand Gulch. When winter approaches and the temps cool down, climbers from the Front Range flock to the warm weather haven of Shelf Road. All the campsites at both campgrounds have picnic tables and fire rings. Travel like a local, not a tourist! Here’s what we’ll cover: Shelf Road is located near Cañon City, about 2.5 hours south of Denver. Freelance Writing, Travel, and Life Skills. There’s nothing quite like climbing in a sports bra in January. Shelf Road. It’s a beautiful area featuring limestone cliffs, so expect lots of pocket-pulling. This is considered to be one of the best sport climbing areas in the state. Shelf Road. But since there are so many climbs, you can just keep walking down the cliff band until you find something open that looks fun. We do not have any recommendations at this time, Shelf Road Climbing Guide Book by Bob D'Antonio. For that, I would check out climbing at Clear Creek Canyon instead. However, other (older) guides for shelf are now out of print. This packing list includes separate checklists for camping, hiking, backpacking, winter travel, and trip details. Shelf Road Climbing South Platte Climbing: The Northern Volume and South Platte Climbing: Thunder Ridge and Turkey Rock Edition Mountainproject.com also provides excellent user-generated recommendations and up-to-date information about the Centennial State’s climbing areas. Having read the other review on this book, I was inclined not to purchase it. Metropolis (5.11d) starts hard right off the ground and is fun the whole way up. You can always double-check with good old MP, but typically the info to get you oriented is sparse at best. Shelf Road Rock Climbing Shelf Road is one of the very best sport climbing destinations in the country. also what are the best/recently updated guide books for these two areas? The warm climate makes this spot great for climbing any time of year. Please make sure that you are posting in the form of a question. Can't find this book anywhere else, and it contains great information for climbers of all levels. Just be aware that there is a lot of cactus around, so watch out for your dogs getting a paw or faceful of spines – and watch yourself, too! Crystal (5.11b) is super aesthetic, and The Raw and the Roasted (5.11) is a long route with awesome moves and varied climbing. The good news is, falls are generally clean, so Shelf Road is a safer spot to really push yourself. A short drive north of Cañon City on County Road 9 will lead you to some of the best, most challenging rock climbing in Colorado. Even the directions to the crag are more complicated than necessary, making what should be simple directions into a circuitous route around the Wall Mart when you can just turn on Dozier or even Field directly. Finally, a comprehensive guide to Shelf Road with over 900 plus routes, the new guide covers: The Gallery, Sand Gulch, Dead Colt, The Bank, The Dark Side, The Vault Area, Cactus Cliff, Spiney Ridge, The Gym, The North End and the Great Black North. Welcome to the updated version of Shelf Road Rock. Even the nearby hikes here offer up killer views. Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2014. Shelf Road, Colorado / The Piggy Bank & Bank Rob Rock Climbing Guide. This is the most complete guide ever published for Shelf Road, and will guide you to countless, incredible days climbing in this magical limestone paradise. Plus get bonus local travel tips, gear deals, and more to your inbox once a month! Shelf Road: Limestone walls are lined with endless sport routes in a beautiful desert landscape. Trad and sport climbers alike will grumble, but don’t fret – there are plenty of fun moves in between painful jams. Take advantage of Cañon City’s 325 annual days of sunshine, and enjoy year-round climbing on vertical limestone at one of Colorado’s most popular, and one of its first, sport-climbing venues. Find answers in product info, Q&As, reviews. Pizza Madness is perfect for when you’re wrecked from climbing and want to stuff your face with cheesy goodness. These 30-140 foot cliffs were deposited in the Helena Canyon area around 500 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics for Rock Climbing. It’s not uncommon to find me here on the weekend. Michael & Rachel McGee are featured in the following guide books: Colorado 14ers Summits and Attempts Check your inbox for instructions on your FREE Colorado packing list. The Crack of Dawn (5.10b) could be a trad climb, but it’s bolted since it’s at Shelf. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Arrive early if you want to hang at Menses, most of the routes fill up quickly. The limestone cliffs offer more than 1000 established routes, divided among several areas/crags and ranging from 5.4 to 5.14. It gets the job done. Under BLM Agreement L12AC20483 . Maybe the most classic climb at The Bank is Number 1 Super Guy (5.11a) which has an incredible – and photogenic – roof section. Choose Expedited Shipping for 2-3 Day Delivery. The type is small, and there is a lot of printing in light colors on dark backgrounds in tiny type making it really hard to read. The trails to the crags are some of my favorite. In April of 2005, this shot was taken looking right out the car window, just a few miles up from the Gym area. This one, however, is confusing and difficult to use. Skip the Colorado climbing gyms, and head out for a day in the sun at Shelf instead. The highest suspension bridge in the country spans the Arkansas River at 956 feet in the air. Menses. Shelf Road: Half Day. Nearby campgrounds make overnight trips easy and fun!