All Locations > Colorado > S Platte > Cathedral Spires Area

Cynical Pinnacle Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Cynical Pinnacle

L › R R › L A › Z

	50 Shades of Green S 5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
	Amy, Good Gorilla T 5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
	Buffaloes in Space T 5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c
	Center Route T 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
	Center Route P1 Variation T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Center Route P3 Variation T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Class Act T 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c R
	CMC Route T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Don't Fear The Boogie Man T 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Green Piece T 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a R
	Hand Job (aka West Face) T 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
	Hand Job Direct T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Lost at Sea T 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a R
	Monkey in the Forest T 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
	Off-width Route TR 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Only the Lonely S 5.13+ 8b 30 X- 31 E7 7a
	Rap Crack T 5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
	Rising Crescendo or Serpentine Crack T 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a R
	Rubber Ducky T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Rubber Ducky P2 T 5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c
	Tough Turf T 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a PG13
	Turf Spreader T 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Twist O' Flex T 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
	Wunsch's Dihedral T 5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a C0

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

Explore this area in 3D

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	7,827 ft	2,386 m
GPS:	39.42059, -105.25164 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	137,101 total · 595/month
Shared By:	John McNamee on Feb 17, 2006 · Updates
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closure Details

2023 info: jeffco.us/1531/Alerts-Closures

The Cathedral Spires area, including Block Tower, Cynical Pinnacle, Snake Buttress, the Dome, Hall of Mirrors, Sunshine Wall, and Poe Buttress, are closed annually starting March 1 for raptor nesting. After careful monitoring of nest sites, Jefferson County Open Space opens certain areas of Cathedral Spires and maintain spot closures for active nests through July 31st. Check back periodically during times of closure for updates: jeffco.us/open-space/parks/…

Note, JeffCo Open Space has notified us that access to The Bishop and Poop Point (along with all the Cathedral Spires Area) currently goes across JeffCo OS land. Despite information in some guidebooks (published or soon-to-be-published), the entire Cathedral Spires area is subject raptor nesting closures. Please be aware of the hefty fines associated with failure to observe these regulations.

Description

Cynical Pinnacle is probably the most popular of the crags in the Cathedral Spires of the South Platte. Its prominent south-facing prow attracts the eye for miles. This spire hosts a number of fine routes. The ever popular Center Route gains the greatest lines & waits. However, Wunsch's Dihedral is an excellent sustained line for the intermediate to advanced crack climber. Turf Spreader draws the eye, but requires a pumpy roof to gain entry to its beautiful upper crack. The Prayer Book was once featured in a Jeff Lowe video. Breashear's Crack is a fun test piece for the advanced.

Getting There

Walk uphill up one of the various of the trails ascending from the North Fork of the South Platte River. You may pass various abandoned relics from a different era along the way.

Per Ross Exler: new approach beta: to approach Cynical Pinnacle, park in the parking lot with the bathroom (not the small pulloffs for the old trail that you will pass coming from Foxton), and start up the trail for Sunshine Wall on the left side of the lot by the signs. After 5 minutes, the trail will split towards the right at some logs used to stabilize the trail (you’ll pass another trail that splits to the right, but no logs). Take this right, and follow the trail to the top. Thank you so much BCC trail crew and volunteers for the hard work and excellent new trail.

Descent

Most parties will descend to the east off of the summit to the saddle on top of Center Route. From the saddle there are a few different options depending on if you have 2 ropes or not. Note that it is possible to descend with one 60m rope. See comments below for a detailed explanation.

24 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	Cynical Pinnacle Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at Cynical Pinnacle

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 29 ● Hand Job Direct Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 493 ● Center Route Trad 3 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 12 ● Hand Job (aka West Face) Trad 3 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 6 ● Twist O' Flex Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 26 ● Center Route P3 Variation Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 9 ● Rubber Ducky Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 6 ● Monkey in the Forest Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c R 36 ● Class Act Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 39 ● Turf Spreader Trad 3 pitches
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a C0 224 ● Wunsch's Dihedral Trad, Aid 4 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a R 10 ● Rising Crescendo or Serpentine C… Trad 3 pitches
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c 10 ● Buffaloes in Space Trad
5.13+ 8b 30 X- 31 E7 7a 4 ● Only the Lonely Sport 5 pitches