Independence Monument (5.9, 4 pitches) At the heart of the Colorado National Monument, near Grand Junction, is a huge tower that stretches up 500 feet from the canyon floor. Independence Monument was featured as a Rock & Ice Classic in 1994. Jeff Fassett called it "a novel and highly enjoyable climb... a fun day climb with extra time for relaxation or a few more pitches on the nearby sandstone rock formations." More on Independence Monument I Rates

Castleton Tower (5.9, 4 pitches) Just 25 minutes from Moab, Utah, this tower is one of the most popular climbs in the slickrock area. The North Chimney and Kor-Ingalls are both 5.9 routes, requiring classic sandstone chimney, crack and face climbing techniques. The climb takes a full day and is somewhat strenuous, but once you're on top it's all worth it. One of Steck & Roper's "Fifty Classic Climbs of North America." More on Castleton Tower I Rates

Ancient Art Tower (5. 8 or 5.10, A0, 4 pitches) This uniquely shaped spire is part of the world-famous rock formation known as the Fisher Towers of Utah, a 30-minute drive from Moab, Utah or an hour from Grand Junction, Colorado. It is one of the most solid and safest rock climbs in the formation, and a great way to experience multi-pitch sandstone rock climbing in the Fisher Towers. If you choose to stand on top, you will also experience some of the wildest exposure possible for a tower at this level. This is a full day outing for persons with some experience. More on Ancient Art I Rates

Unaweep Canyon (5.5 to 5.13) A rock climber's dream, Unaweep Canyon, 30 minutes from Grand Junction, Colorado is lined on both sides with 25 miles of beautiful, solid granite cliffs, crags, boulders, and cracks. This is a favorite spot for the training courses as well as multi-pitch climbing experiences and top-rope climbing. Unaweep is appropriate for every skill level and has enough uncrowded walls to keep us climbing for days. More on Unaweep Canyon I Rates may be for toprope & single pitch or multi-pitch

Indian Creek (5.5 to 5.14) Your crack climbing skills will take a quantum leap on the world-famous sandstone of Indian Creek Canyon, located about an hour from Moab, Utah. Visit Supercrack Buttress and Donnelly Canyon to climb the classics: Supercrack, Incredible Hand Crack, Generic Hand Crack, Chocolate Corner, Elephant Man, and more. Indian Creek is also home to many great desert tower climbs, including South Six-Shooter, North Six-Shooter, Easter Island, and Bridger Jack Mesa. This is a great place for intermediate to advanced climbers. More on Indian Creek I Rates

Colorado National Monument ( 5.7 to 5.12) The sandstone walls of Colorado National Monument form a scenic backdrop for the towns of Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado. For climbers, they provide easy access to dozens of high-quality redrock climbing routes and desert towers at all levels. "Excellent Wingate sandstone, superb crack systems, and numerous spires attract climbers to the monument." -Stewart M. Green, Rock Climbing Colorado, A Falcon Guide, 1995" Rates may be for toprope and single pitch or multi-pitch

Three Towers In Three Days
Practice your multi-pitch climbing skills and enjoy the view from the top of three grand desert towers. There are many to choose from and we'll work with you to pick the most appropriate for you. Some climbing experience is required. Rates

And Much More (5.5 to 5.14) The locations mentioned above are only the beginning. Desert Crags & Cracks also frequents such well-known places as: Sentinel Spire and Kissing Couple in the Colorado National Monument, Sister Superior in Castle Valley, Easter Island, North Six-Shooter and South Six-Shooter in the Indian Creek area, Lighthouse Tower, Potash Road near Moab and many others.

Independence Monument

• A Rock & Ice Classic -Rock & Ice (Mar-Apr 1994)
• "...A novel and highly enjoyable climb.... fun, with a lofty summit and an easy approach through beautiful surroundings." -Jeff Fassett, Rock & Ice (Mar-Apr 1994)
• "Colorado National Monument offers some of Colorado's most unusual rock climbing adventures on its unique sandstone spires and cliffs. This special place, more akin to Utah's canyon country than anything else in Colorado, leaves the climber in awe at the beauty and serenity of these high desert canyons." -Stewart M. Green, Rock Climbing Colorado, A Falcon Guide, 1995 Rates

Castleton Tower

• "This is the big daddy. Castleton is the most popular and has the best rock quality of the desert towers ... more than 10 routes and variations on this 40-story monolith..." -Dougald MacDonald, Rock & Ice (Sep-Oct 1996)

• "Perched atop a thousand-foot scree cone, the imposing presence of Castleton Tower is the epitome of the classic desert spire." -Katy Cassidy and Earl Wiggins, Canyon Country Climbs, Pruett Publishing 1989 Rates

Ancient Art Tower

• "Of all the teetering summits on the Colorado Plateau, none is more outlandish than Ancient Art. The mud-caked, spiraling tower looks like the backdrop for a Dr. Seuss story.... Surprisingly enough, Ancient Art offers fairly decent climbing... Ancient Art double-dares you to stand on top. As early-'60s desert-climbing pioneer Layton Kor said, you should climb these towers 'not so much because they're there, but rather because they may not be there much longer.'" -Dougald MacDonald, Rock & Ice (Sep-Oct 1996) Rates

Indian Creek Canyon

• "sandstone utopia" -Climbing (Oct-Nov 1991)
• Indian Creek is "one of the undisputed crack-climbing capitols of the world. Located near the southeastern border of Canyonlands National Park, Indian Creek Canyon is a required stop on any climber's itinerary. The town of Moab, the region's recreational hub, lies 56 miles to the north... with its concentration of great climbing, and the distinction of being the first true 'cragging' area in the Southwest desert, Indian Creek is in a class by itself." -Steve Petro, Climbing (Oct-Nov 1991) Rates

South Six-Shooter

• "The Six-Shooters are the twin towers atop neighboring talus cones, visible from many points in canyon country.... This tower is really not about rock climbing, it's a peak to bag in an extraordinary location. South Six-Shooter rises almost 1,500 feet above the floor of Davis Canyon and is central to the whole Indian Creek basin, with views of three mountain ranges and a lifetime of canyon country to explore. If you can't enjoy this one just for what it is, you're probably climbing in the desert for the wrong reasons." -Dougald MacDonald, Rock & Ice (Sep-Oct 1996)
• "For climbers looking for short, enjoyable, and moderate climbs, it [South Six-Shooter] can't be beat." -Katy Cassidy and Earl Wiggins, Canyon Country Climbs, Pruett Publishing 1989

Unaweep Canyon

• "Unaweep Canyon's... numerous walls... offer an excellent variety of climbing routes that include some of Colorado's best crack lines." -Stewart M. Green, Rock Climbing Colorado, A Falcon Guide, 1995

Sentinel Spire

• "This proud tower is admirably pointy and easily visible from Interstate 70. The novelty of Sentinel Spire isn't so much the climb, but the approach. Although you can walk to the base of this tower on the Monument Canyon Trail, it would require a hot march of at least a couple of hours. Instead, most climbers rappel from a rope fixed to a tree on the rim, just west of the tower. From your camp at Saddlehorn Campground, you can walk over to this tree in five minutes. The jumar back out at the end of the day is strenuous, but short." -Dougald MacDonald, Rock & Ice (Sep-Oct 1996)

Easter Island

• "Easter Island is the shortest and easiest of the summits on the amazing Bridger Jack formation. This ridge of sandstone aiguilles appears to be sailing into the gap between Indian Creek and Lavender canyons like a many-masted ship.... Easter Island offers enjoyable, varied climbing at a reasonable standard. However, even this is no cakewalk." -Dougald MacDonald, Rock & Ice (Sep-Oct 1996)

Lighthouse Tower

• "A terrific spire above the Big Bend Recreation Area... you have to contend with the wild summit, a car-sized sandstone globe on a pedestal that must be mantled and then down-climbed... -Dougald MacDonald, Rock & Ice (Sep-Oct 1996)

Potash Road, Moab

• "The wealth of climbing potential right off the Potash Road offered a new twist to desert climbing: face climbing. Other notable face routes appeared here and there throughout the desert, but Potash was the first area that solely concentrated on face routes. With few exceptions, most Potash routes are short, technically difficult, and quite enjoyable." -Katy Cassidy and Earl Wiggins, Canyon Country Climbs, Pruett Publishing 1989