Elevation: 8,050 ft
GPS: 37.85137, -106.29103
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 55,103 total · 212/month
Shared By: Orphaned on Nov 7, 2001 · Updates
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Access Issue: ACCESS ISSUE* - PULLOUT PARKING CLOSURE Details

Description

Basically the same story as Penitente proper, but more remote and perhaps more beautiful. The hike over is fairly short (10 minutes?) and has great views. A perfect spot to escape any crowds that might be forming in the more well known areas.

Addendum: Eds. this area has been moved out from under Penitente Canyon to San Luis Valley, since it can be considered distinct.

Access / Approach Trail:

Rock Garden is accessed from the Penitente Main Canyon.
Park at the Penitente Canyon parking lots, hike through the main canyon, up the rim, and drop into the Rock Garden. It's about a 0.8-mile hike, and can take 15-25 minutes, depending.

• Hike to the end of the main canyon (past the slab routes/Jewel of the Mild) to where the trail forks.
• Take a left at the fork and hike ~800ft until you reach a yellow sign "Trail Confidence Marker - 5." At this sign, bust right onto the rock/slab.
• From here, the trail is mostly slab surfing with cairns here and there to work your way up to the rim. You'll hike a portion of the Blue Sky MTB Loop.
• After about ~0.3miles of slab and trail, turn Right at the two brown trail signs at a fork reading "RG" and some arrows.
• Descend into the Rock Garden canyon. Trail spits you out at a slab warm-up, Ligneous Embracer.

https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=16.8/-106.2931/37.8481&pubLink=d1Tx1Xbsbl06Lqi4Fos7Puso&trackId=b63e1b2e7cbe098d4f

68 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Rock Garden

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 43
Ligneous Embracer
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 19
Otto
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 7
California Crack
Trad
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 31
Jugalicious
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 17
The Bottom Line
Sport
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 31
Copacetic
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 18
The Terror
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 8
Organic Gardening
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 4
You're Busted
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 13
The Reckoning
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 7
Pumping Pockets
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 6
It's a Schu-in
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 3
Hot Chocolate
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 4
Bust A Move
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 4
DOA
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Ligneous Embracer
 43
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Otto
 19
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
California Crack
 7
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Jugalicious
 31
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport
The Bottom Line
 17
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Copacetic
 31
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
The Terror
 18
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Organic Gardening
 8
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad
You're Busted
 4
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
The Reckoning
 13
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Pumping Pockets
 7
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
It's a Schu-in
 6
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Hot Chocolate
 3
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Bust A Move
 4
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
DOA
 4
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
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