Ewok Stew offers climbers a refreshing and approachable challenge set within the stark natural beauty of Main Elk Creek near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. This single-pitch sport route spans 70 feet along a chimney’s left edge before leading into a series of pocketed holds that invite steady movement and precise footwork. As you begin your ascent, the chimney presents itself as both a gateway and a test, demanding commitment before you traverse right to connect with the bolts lining the face. The climb’s character emerges through its well-featured rock, punctuated by pockets that feel both deliberate and playful under your fingertips. Your hands and feet will work together, negotiating the subtle overhang that rises past the third bolt—the climb’s definitive crux—where the angle steepens just enough to push your body past vertical.

Above this move, the terrain eases as you reach a roomy ledge crowned with chain anchors, offering relief and space to relish your accomplishment. The rock’s texture here is firm and reliable, lending confidence as you clip or prepare to lower. This area of Colorado is renowned for its rugged landscape shaped by the roar of nearby Elk Creek, which seems to echo the spirit of this climb—steady yet demanding respect. Ewok Stew’s accessible rating of 5.9 makes it an ideal introduction to technical pocket climbing without overwhelming less-experienced climbers, while still delivering enough complexity to keep the seasoned enthusiast engaged.

Approaching the climb is a straightforward affair, with solid bolt protection streamlining the ascent and reducing gear concerns to essentials. The sport nature of Ewok Stew means you can focus fully on movement and sequencing, making it a reliable route for those looking to hone their technique in a setting that encourages exploration and precision. Timing your climb to avoid the hottest afternoon sun will allow the rock’s texture to remain grippy under your hands, especially during the crucial crux.

Ewok Stew inhabits a calm but inspiring slice of the Colorado climbing scene, where quiet forests buffer the trailhead and the creek below dares the adventurer onward. The climb is more than just physical effort: it’s an opportunity to listen to the landscape, feel the rock’s purposeful shapes, and emerge refreshed by a day spent balancing focus with natural beauty.