El dorado Canyon
Look for chalk on the walls in Eldorado Canyon. Hidden to the untrained eye, whitewashed handholds shoot upward just off the road, dotting the sides of the towering sandstone spires until they dissolve out of sight. Like cairns on a hiking trail, these markings reveal climbing routes meant for testing yourself in one of Colorado’s most stunning state parks.
Here, only 30 miles from Denver, climbing routes are plentiful and the access is easy. Just steps from the parking lot begin a handful of ambitious, world-class climbs, while hundreds more lie waiting deeper into the canyon. From the ground, skyscraper walls of red rock tower up to 700 feet overhead, offering traditional, top rope and sport ascents in every direction. Passersby heading out on a day hike in the park can’t help but look upward in awe at climbers in the midst of a route; unbeknownst to them, they’re pointing out some of the most sought-after routes in North America…
