Elephant Head

We climbed 2 different routes, and found them to be challenging yet not overwhelming. There is something for all us novices to work on; convex face, dimpled face, finger and hand crack, 1-4 inch ledges, etc.

See the photos: press onto a 3 inch ledge (#1) and work along it and some toe cracks to a finger and hand crack on the left (#2).Climb the crack to another small ledge and work right on the convex wall to a bolt hanger (#3). Or power over the dimpled face with smooth 1 finger pockets and toe smears to the hanger (#3). Continue up and right to the top of the elephants head (#4). From here, it is finger holds and toe smears up and left to the second bolt hanger (#5) then an easy scramble up to the top (#6).

Follow Monument Canyon trail from Trail head on CO Hwy 340. Where trail leaves fence to follow creek bed:

To the top: 30 yards up the trail on the right, follow a drainage to the bottom of the sloping flatrock. Level 2 hike up this for about 150- 200 feet and find 3 sets of chickenheads set for TR anchors. These were set by local climbing school. Continue up the slope another 150 feet to an area with several trees large enough to use for TR anchors.

To the bottom: continue on the trail for about 100 yards to a rock outcropping that resembles an elephant head and trunk (or skull). This rock is directly below the above described TR area. (See pictures). There are 2 bolt hangers to the left of the elephant head.

There are 2 bolt hangers to the left of the elephant head. Trees and boulders for TR anchors are 10-20 feet from edge, so longer webbing needed for anchor.