Climbing Season
The Colorado Department of Transportation closes Highway 82 for the winter, usually just after Halloween. At that time, the highway is gated approximately 4.5 miles east of Aspen and 10.4 miles west of Twin Lakes. The road generally re-opens Memorial Day to accommodate holiday travelers and the start of the summer season.
Year-round climbing can be found on Classy Cliff, Master Headwall and Dragon Rock on the west. On sunny winter days, the Grotto Wall is an easy ski or short snowshoe away. The Dump Wall, Outlook Rock, and Monitor Rock offer year-round climbing access from the east. All other cliffs are climbable as soon as the highway opens.
In summer months the temperatures are mild (70’s and low 80’s), while afternoon thunderstorms are common and ferocious, though often short-lived. In the spring and fall, expect periods of sun, shorter days and occasional bouts of wind and rain, even snow. Be prepared for all weather conditions!