Detour 71 offers a focused trad climbing experience on a modest yet demanding 30-foot wall in the rugged Vogel Canyon area of Colorado's Picket Wire Canyon. This single-pitch route invites committed climbers to navigate a thin, straight crack pushing vertically through the center of the rock face. From the moment your fingers find their grip in the narrow fissure, the climb demands both precise technique and confidence. The crux section arrives roughly a third of the way up, where the holds diminish, but smart placement of protection keeps the challenge fair and the fall potential minimal.

The wall’s surface is solid, yet the slender crack requires delicate gear placements, best approached with a good rack of RPs, TCUs, and finger-sized cams. The protection is reliable, but the narrowness of the crack can test your gear judgment and patience. Vogel Canyon itself is a quiet stretch of Colorado’s high desert landscape, offering stark rock formations backed by open skies and a sense of solitude that few other climbs in the region provide.

Access to Detour 71 begins with a straightforward hike into The Don Wall sector, a spot favored by local climbers for its proximity to Picket Wire Canyon’s dramatic natural contours. The trailhead sits at roughly 37.6432 latitude and -103.5794 longitude, from where a brief walk leads to the base of the climb. Approaching through this semi-arid terrain, you’ll move over scattered juniper and weathered sandstone, the dry air carrying the faint scent of sagebrush.

Though technically approachable for intermediate trad climbers, Detour 71 is not a route for those new to leading moderate cracks. The 5.8 PG13 rating signals that while the moves themselves are manageable, the runout sections and the thin crack demand focused attention and a strong mental game. For those comfortable with crack climbing and gear placements on smaller cams, it offers an engaging short climb that combines physical challenge with the tranquility of a lesser-traveled part of the canyon.

Timing your climb in the morning or late afternoon will help avoid the full heat of the midday sun, as the wall’s aspect exposes it to Colorado’s sharp desert sunlight. During spring and fall, temperatures are ideal, and the clarity of the air lends a crispness to the experience. Be sure to bring enough water for the short approach and the climb itself.

After topping out, descending is best handled by carefully downclimbing or walking off to nearby scramble routes, avoiding any risky rappels on loose or steep terrain. This descent requires attention and steady footing.

Detour 71 blends straightforward logistics with a technical crack climbing experience that rewards precision and patience. While brief, the route leaves a lasting impression—a controlled test of trad skills in an area that feels far from the busier Colorado climbing hubs. For climbers ready to manage their gear with care and take pride in mastering a crisp crack line, Detour 71 stands as a worthy goal.