Pine Straw is a concise yet engaging trad climb tucked along the South Fork of St. Vrain Canyon, offering a rugged encounter with Colorado’s granite sculpted by shifting currents and winds. This route, though brief at just 80 feet, challenges with a deceptively tricky crux that demands precise movement and confident gear placements. The opening section involves negotiating a low angle trough, where pine needles blanket the ground and the forest’s quiet keeps you grounded in the moment. Vegetation here is part of the climb’s texture, with a bush that subtly influences your move sequence early on—requiring a mindful approach to balance and footing.

The path swings right beneath the first ceiling, a moment that underlines the route’s rhythm before pushing toward the crux at the second ceiling. This section tempts with a hand stack option, demanding creativity and trust in technique. The crux move is more complex than its look suggests, a reminder that this route rewards careful reading of the rock and refined execution rather than brute force. Protection consists of a single set of cams, emphasizing the importance of placing gear with both security and economy in mind—particularly in this low-angle, irregular terrain.

Given the absence of fixed anchors at the top, descent strategy becomes part of the route planning. Climbers need to prepare for a tricky option: traversing either left toward the established Iced Tea anchors or right toward a gully’s edge for a safer exit. This decision depends on comfort with unroped travel and awareness of the surrounding terrain. The canyon’s environment pushes you to stay alert, blending the wildness of an alpine setting with the practical challenge of efficient gear use and route navigation.

Visitors to Pine Straw will appreciate its understatement: a 5.9- that’s approachable yet demands respect, perfect for trad climbers looking to refine their technical skills in a setting that feels quietly alive. The South Fork of St. Vrain offers more than just a climb—it's an invitation to engage with the rock and forest around you, to listen to the whisper of a breeze through the pines and the soft crunch of footfalls on ancient stone. This route makes a solid day project for a soloist or a pair seeking an immersive taste of Colorado’s sharp granite and forested canyons, away from crowds but close enough to Lyons for easy access and post-climb refreshments.