Eldorado Canyon | Swanson’s Arete

Eldorado Canyon State Park is one of Colorado’s premier adventure climbing destinations; having climbs for everyone, from moderate cracks to thin faces, there’s something to be inspired by!

Named in memory of Jon Swanson and embedded into the classics of Eldo, Swanon’s Arete provides an exhilarating day high off the deck on Lumpe Tower. Beautiful views on the summit are unforgettable and just that start for a budding Eldorado Canyon climber.

+Swanson's Arete

This adventure takes place in Eldorado Canyon State Park.

Pre-Adventure Trip Call:

Our team extends the offer to schedule a call before your guided tour. They will discuss the route beta for the day, review gear needs, and share a general time plan for the trip. This is also a great way to ask any questions about the day!

Morning:

Meet in Eldo, and share a quick morning hello, and the day’s itinerary. The team will make any small adjustments to the kit and then take a stroll to our climb.

An integral part of climbing is familiarity with the area and its history. Our team shares some stories and educates as we approach the climb.

The Climb:

Send it!

End Of Day Debrief:

At the cars, we focus our attention on the day; sharing the Rose, the Bud, and the Thorn to ruminate more deeply on the experience. It is often customary ( but not mandatory) to have a meal back in the town to celebrate the great days spent in the mountains!

The transformation from homestead to what is now the town of Eldorado Springs began in 1904. In that year, George Taylor purchased 480 acres from the DN&P- land granted to the railroad by the government. A year later the Moffat Lakes Resort company started construction on a swimming pool, stables, dance halls, and a roller skating rink. The town flourished, entertaining visitors from throughout the country. Aerialist Ivy Baldwin began his famous wire walk act from the Bastille to Wind Tower and in 1908 the Crags Hotel was constructed high on the North slopes of Eldorado Mountain. It was burned down under suspicious circumstances in 1912.

Bump to the Golden Era of climbing in Eldo, 1957, when Layton Kor arrived with a flurry of new-route activity that has never been equaled in the canyon's history. Notable classics that still remain classics include the Bastille's Northwest Corner and West Buttress, T2, The Yellow Spur, and the Wind Ridge on Wind Tower.

Most of the canyon's great lines were climbed in the next few years by early stone masters including, Bob Culp, George Hurley, Peter Lev, Dave Dornan, Pat Ament, and so on...

Eldorado Canyon remains a traditional, free, and clean, bastion of climbing, sucking the new generation in with the attraction of a lifetime’s worth of classic climbing. Eldorado's modern climbing community, like its predecessors, style strives to push limits. These days speed records and hard free-solos have caught some attention.

What can still be shared, Eldorado is commonly referred to as a second home for the community, proud of its roots and excited by the current generation.