Crimson Chrysalis, Cloud Tower 5.8

  
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Red Rocks, Nevada USA

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A map of the general Red Rocks, Nevada USA area is shown below. No GPS coordinates for this specific route are available at this time.

Approach
This approach is about 1.5 miles long and gains about 1,000 feet in elevation.
From Pine Creek Trailhead, hike on the main trail down the hill and up Pine Creek. Go past the Fire Ecology Trail (two entrances, it is a short loop), past an unnamed trail on the left, to the main Arnight/Knoll Trail (just past the prominent concrete foundation of the old homestead; about 15-20 minutes from the car). Cross the creek, go right for 150 feet, then follow the nicely graded trail left and up the far bank. Hike on the trail for about 10 minutes, then take the right trail heading toward Cloud Tower. The first prominent trail on the right is the approach to Rose Tower and the Northeast Face of Jackrabbit Buttress (the descent trail from Rose Tower intersects earlier, but it is hard to see from the main trail). To continue on to Crimson Chrysalis, Geronimo, or anything up the main Juniper Canyon (Brownstone Wall, Rainbow Wall), stay on the left trail. After another few hundred yards, a trail heads left across the rocky wash toward Cloud Tower (Crimson etc), while the main Juniper Canyon trail heads up the canyon. From here, many steep trails switchback up the ramp. Head toward the upper right hand corner of the ramp to approach the base of Crimson Chrysalis. The route starts up an obvious right-facing corner and crack.

An alternate approach starts from the junction of Highway 159 and the exit gate of the Loop Road. Reverse the Loop Road on foot to the Oak Creek Trailhead. Turn right on the Arnight Trail that leads to the Knoll Trail. This adds another 2 miles to the approach, but gives a head start on climbers who use the Loop Road, which doesn’t open until 6 a.m.

Descent
Rappel the route with two 50m or 60m ropes. Be aware that other climbers are surely below. The cracks tend to eat ropes so pull ropes to the right and away from the crack. Reverse the approach trail back to the car.

Cloud Tower - Crimson Chrysalis 5.8 - Red Rocks, Nevada USA. Click to Enlarge
The classic Crimson Chrysalis ascends beautiful Cloud Tower.
Photo: Sarah Felchlin