South Six-Shooter in Indian Creek
Springtime in Telluride can mean nasty weather so many local climbers head to the desert to get their fix. We recently climbed South Six-Shooter, a great desert tower for beginner climbers. This is our beta…
South Six-Shooter is located in Indian Creek. From US-191, turn towards Indian Creek/Canyonlands onto UT-211W, pass Bridger Jack mesa and the two Six-Shooter towers. Turn left on the 4WD road to Davis Canyon, this road is signed and leads to Canyonlands. There are two trailheads, but the shorter hike is accessible from the south side of the mesa (drive all the way around the mesa). There is a fairly distinct parking area with a cairned trail leading to the climb.
The hike should take 40 minutes to an hour depending on your route and hiking speed. Once you get to the climb, there are a few different options to get to the top from 5.6 to 5.10b. Check out Mountain Project for the various route option details. The climbing is trad/traditional and the easiest route is up the left side for three pitches. The crux is on pitch 3, a mantel move leading to the summit, some guide books rate it 5.7.
South Six-Shooter is the perfect climb for beginners who want to check a desert tower off their list and the view from the top is incredible! The climb is straightforward and worth the effort.
