Summertime in the Alpine

Escape the valley heat at these summertime spots overlooking the Upper Arkansas Valley.

Haggerman Pass (East Side)

Vibe Check: This is a high mountain pass just outside of leadville with a variety of bouldering and alpine climbing. The boulders are remote, steep and plentiful. A high-clearance vehicle is preferable.

Notable areas:

-Nathaniels Boulders

-Big boy area

-Meadow Boulders

Iron City (St Elmo)

Vibe Check: The Boulders are in and around the Iron City campground, a ghost town near the neighboring ghost town of St. Elmo. The area is popular among atv users, jeepers and sightseers but it is often overlooked for it’s bouldering. The boulders are hidden with densely shaded forest just NE of the campground. A small sport climbing crag can also be reached by a short walk east of the gift shop in St Elmo and is visible en route to the campground.

Agnes Vaille Boulder

Vibe Check: the boulder is located on the approach to Agnes Vaille Falls located near chalk creek between Nathrop and St. Elmo. The falls are named after the climber Agnes Vaille who died on a winter attempt of Longs Peak. The falls themselve were also the site of tragic rockfall accident. The trail was rerouted following the incident. The boulder offers several tall slab routes but the area in general carries some emotional weight