A beginner-friendly overview of rock climbing at North Table Mountain in Golden, Colorado. North Table Mountain climbing (also called Golden Cliffs) offers sport and trad routes for all skill levels.
Where is North Table Mountain climbing?
How long is the hike to North Table Mountain?
When is the best time to climb at North Table Mountain?
What are the best areas to climb at North Table Mountain?
Is there a guidebook for Golden rock climbing?
Where is the Golden Cliffs/North Table Mountain climbing area?
The Golden Cliffs climbing area sits above Golden, Colorado overlooking landmarks such as the Coors Brewery, South Table Mountain, and Lookout Mountain.
Directions to Golden Cliffs main parking at North Table Mountain:
- From Denver, take I70 W and exit at CO-58 W. Take Clearview Pkwy and turn onto Boyd St. Turn left onto Peery Pkwy and continue right towards the dirt road.
- From Boulder, take CO-93 S to Golden. Exit at N Ford St. Turn left onto Mesa Dr, right onto Ridge Rd and Normans St, and left onto Ptarmigan St. Follow Peery Dr until it turns into Peery Pkwy. Continue to the dirt road.
To get to the Golden Cliffs climbing area, take the dirt road at the end of Peery Parkway. The road splits, and both forks continue shortly to a parking lot. Either lot will get you to the climbing area, and neither is a significantly closer hike.
Parking for the main North Table Mountain climbing area
As mentioned, there are two parking lots at the Golden Cliffs climbing area you can park at–the main lot and the upper overflow lot. The upper lot is sometimes closed in winter due to snow, and as a result, there may be a limited number of parking spaces.
Note: Generally, the parking lots fill up quickly on the weekends, so arrive early in order to secure a spot.
North Table Mountain climbing access trail
The trail from the parking lot to the start of the climbing area is about a mile overall and takes roughly 20 minutes. Although short, the trail is moderately steep, and there is almost no shade on the way up.
Weather and best times to climb at North Table Mountain
Because of its ample Colorado sunshine, North Table Mountain is a prime winter climbing destination. Snow melts quickly off North Table Mountain due to its southern exposure. Spring and fall are also quite pleasant at the Golden Cliffs climbing area as a result of mild temperatures–however, it can occasionally get windy.
In contrast, summer can be hot and there is little shade, so keep this in mind. For that reason, the best time to climb North Table Mountain in the summer is either early or later in the day.
Looking for more rock climbing near Golden, CO? Then, check out our post Where to Rock Climb in Golden, CO!
North Table Mountain climbing areas
Without a doubt, the Main Area is the most popular climbing area at North Table Mountain. There are routes for all skill levels, and as such, it can get quite crowded on weekends.
The areas closest to the start of the trail are the most popular since you don’t have to walk as far. Some popular climbing spots in the Main Area are (from right to left):
- Child Free Zone climbing area
- Brown Cloud Rocks climbing area
- Overhang climbing area
- The Trad Lands climbing area
- Six Pack Wall climbing area
- Winter Warmer climbing area
- Winterfest Wall climbing area
Other climbing areas at North Table Mountain
Besides the main area, the other climbing areas at North Table Mountain are:
- North Quarry/Pinnacles climbing area: This playground for skilled climbers can be reached from the parking area off Highway 93.
- The Quarry/East Quarry climbing area: A popular area for trad climbing and advanced sport routes, the Quarry Wall and East Quarry crags can be accessed from a small parking area on Easly Road.
Is there a guidebook for North Table Mountain?
This Golden Climbing Guide by Fixed Pin Publishing covers North Table Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Golden Gate Canyon, and Morrison.
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Alternatively, you can download the Mountain Project App for routes, beta, and more.
North Table Mountain climbing in Golden, CO
In summary, North Table Mountain climbing offers year-round sunshine and views over Golden! This in turn makes it a climbing area every Colorado climber or visitor should check out!
Done exploring Golden? Then head next door to Morrison Boulders Rock Climbing
