Geronimo, Red Rocks Route Photo

Geronimo 5.6

Jackrabbit Buttress, Juniper Canyon

  • Geronimo Sun ExposureRoute quality:
  • Geronimo First AscentBill Cramer, Michelle Cramer, 1992
  • Geronimo Pitch InfoNumber of pitches: 4
  • Geronimo Approach TimeApproach Time: ¾-1 hour
  • Geronimo Climbing TimeClimbing Time: 2-3½ hours
  • Geronimo Descent timeDescent Time: ¾-1 hour to base
  • Geronimo Sun ExposureSun exposure: Sunrise until mid-afternoon
  • About the Climb

    Geronimo is a short, sunny and fun route with good climbing on lots of jugs. The climb has good exposure, long pitches and comfortable ledges are found at most belays. The rap route on Geronimo used to have a bad reputation, but it's actually not so bad, thanks to some bolted anchors. However, there are lots of features and your ropes can get stuck, so pay attention to your rope handling.

    Geronimo is quite popular, and you are unlikely to have the climb to yourselves. However, because the rappel route on Geronimo is to the right of the actual climb, and most of the belay ledge are spacious, other parties are not too much of a problem.

    The start of Geronimo can be a hard to find. As you get closer to the wall, the start of the climb gets hidden behind a small arete. Try to locate the climb from a distance before the final part of the approach. Climbers wandering around in this area, looking at all the walls, are usually searching for Geronimo.

    Geronimo (Red Rocks) GearLoopTopo {Geronimo (Red Rocks) GearLoopTopo

    Low Resolution GearLoopTopo Preview

    Minimum order of 3 GearLoopTopos

    The GearLoopTopo

    Our GearLoopTopo for Geronimo contains all the information you need for the climb, starting from the Pine Creek Parking. This parking is located near the end of the scenic drive. The described approach follows the main Pine Creek Canyon trail, but a shortcut through the Fire Loop Ecology trail is also possible.

    Possible Combinations

    Because Geronimo is a relatively short route, you'll easily have enough time to climb another route in the area. The best option, and best climb close by, is Olive Oil (5.7). However, Olive Oil can be pretty busy, so you'll need luck or an early start to avoid the line. If you'll be climbing both routes, it's wise to start with Geronimo first, and then go for Olive Oil.

    Another option is Myster Z (5.7), which is in the larger gully to the South of Geronimo. Myster Z has a great first pitch, but the top part only offers average quality climbing. Anyway, climbing Myster Z is a nice way to reach the Brownstone Wall, because you avoid the long hike to that wall. We recommend combining Myster Z with Armatron (5.9) for a great day of climbing.

    Alternatively, you can also walk to Pine Creek Canyon after climbing Geronimo, which takes about 20-30 minutes. Mescalito and Brass Wall have many shorter classics: Cat in the Hat (5.6), Cookie Monster (5.7), Birdland (5.7+), or Dark Shadows (5.8).

    Similar Climbs

    For similar climbs with lots of face climbing at a similar grade try Johnny Vegas (5.7) or Birdland (5.7+). Johnny Vegas is almost pure face climbing and can feel a bit runout. Birdland has great face climbing and a bit more crack climbing than Geronimo.

    At a slightly higher grade, you can try the ultra-classic Crimson Chrysalis (5.8), which has many pitches of sustained and steep face climbing. However, it is a really popular climb, so plan accordingly.

    If you are looking for a full day of climbing at a similar grade you should definitively consider climbing Solar Slab (5.6).

    Geronimo and Juniper Canyon, Red Rocks Back to Red Rocks overview

    1. Power Failure (5.10b)
    2. Unimpeachable Groping (10b)
    3. Ginger Cracks (5.9)
    4. Crimson Chrysalis (5.8)
    5. Black Dagger (5.7+)
    6. Nightcrawler (5.10c)
    7. Armatron (5.9)
    8. Myster Z (5.7)
    9. Geronimo (5.6)
    10. Olive Oil (5.7)

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    routes overview

    Download the Geronimo PDF file or visit the PDF Center.

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