In town climbing

Colorado Springs and Boulder are both at the top of the list for the beginning of technical rock climbing in Colorado.  Though the Third Flatiron had been scaled by 1906 it wasn't until Albert Ellingwood returned to Colorado Springs from Oxford in 1914 that ropes, pitons, and belay techniques were introduced.  These new skills and gear allowed him to go where other climbers had not dared yet and began the era of technical climbing in Garden of the Gods.  The West Face of Grey Rock and Ellingwood's Chimney were the most advanced climbs of the day.  The history and growth of "in town climbing" has continued and there are few cities (if any) that can match the history, access, areas, and routes that Colorado Springs has right in its backyard.  There are well over 1,000 routes "in town" and that published number is well low of what is actually here and there is still development happening.

Blodgett Peak

ute Valley Park

Garden of the Gods

Red Rock Canyon Open Space

Bear Creek Canyon

North Cheyenne Canyon

Old Stage Road

Fishers canyon

Next Door climbing

"Just outside of town" is not necessarily easy to define.  Many might call Pikes Peak in town and Shelf Road to far to be just next door.  The attempt here is simply to highlight some areas that are on the next ring outside of Colorado Springs city limits.  Pikes Peak and Shelf Road are certainly the main attractions though there are countless other small crags that could be included in this list.  Even today there is still more to be discovered or re-discovered.

Air Force Academy

Mount Herman

Pikes Peak

Ute pass

Shelf Road

Phantom Canyon

The Bigfoots

Woodland Park

The South Platte

The South Platte is an enormous area that generally starts southwest of Denver, goes as far west as Lost Creek Wilderness and Wilkerson Pass and likely ends (for argument's sake) somewhere south of 11 Mile Canyon.  Elevations are generally in the 8,000 to 10,000 foot range with some peaks in Lost Creek topping 12,000.  The South Platte very much feels like Colorado Springs' backyard.  A lot of climbing areas can easily be reached in an hour and even the furthest crags north are a day trip-able.  A lot of the crags like Turkey Rock, Thunder Ridge, 11 Mile Canyon, Big Rock Candy Mountain, and more saw lots of development by Colorado Springs climbers.  There is a lifetime of domes, slabs, cracks, boulders, and rowdy adventure climbs awaiting anyone willing to explore.

Turkey Rock

Thunder Ridge

11 Mile Canyon

Devil's Head

Cathedral Spires

Goose Creek / Lost Creek

Badger Flats

Big Rock Candy Mountain