Rocky Mountain National Park

Alpine Rock Climbing in RMNP

Alpine Rock Climbing in Rocky Mountain National Park in the summertime is bucket-list experience if you have the stamina for the early start and long day. The climbs, views and environment are truly epic!

Hallett peak, Notchtop, the Petit Grepon and the Spearhead are all options with climbs in the 5.4-5.9 range.

What to expect on an Alpine Day:

  • Depending on storm forecast, we’ll meet between 3am-5am in RMNP. Hiking to Hallett or Notchtop takes about 2 hours while hikes to the Petit and Spearhead can take 3-4 hours.

  • Afternoon thunderstorms are typical in summertime, so the goal is to complete the climb and be back on the ground before they roll in.

  • The high altitude and adventurous atmosphere can make the grades feel more challenging.

  • If it’s not stormy, it’s fun to jump in an alpine lake after climbing :)

$750 for 1 climber | $495 each for 2 climbers

Notchtop

The approach hike to Notchtop is more mellow than any other alpine climbing approach in RMNP. There is no tallis hopping and the approach trail is mostly flat with a mellow incline until you arrive at the small lake at the base of the formation. It’s also not as popular so it doesn’t draw the crowds that flock to Hallett and the Petit.

The Direct South Ridge is a very fun and accessible 5.9 route with amazing crack climbing. If you like crack climbing and can climb this grade, this is a must do!

The Spiral Route (5.4) is a great way to have an alpine adventure on mellow climbing terrain. This is probably the best option for a first alpine climb for a newer climber.

Hallett Peak

Hallett is a powerful looking peak framing Emerald Lake in RMNP. This is the second shortest hike to an alpine climbing area in the park. From Emerald Lake you hike over tallis and up steep terrain to get to the base of the climbing. The total hike takes about 90 minutes - two hours.

The Culp-Bossier is an epic (and popular) 5.8+. This ain’t your sport 5.8, every pitch has something to offer. You’ll climb through 8 adventurous pitches of cracks, faces and traverses. It’s an incredible mission if you feel confident 5.10 sport climbing and are ready to test yourself on a big day!

The Great Dihedral (5.7) is a great option for an introductory alpine route that’s more technically challenging than the Spiral Route on Notchtop. It’s only 3-4 pitches so you can find out if you like alpine climbing without committing to a bigger route.