At 9,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies, perched atop a massive boulder overlooking a mountain lake, stands one of America's most dramatic sacred spaces. St. Catherine of Siena Chapel—commonly called Chapel on the Rock—rises from its granite pedestal like a prayer made stone. Built in 1936 by the summer camp for boys that surrounds it, the chapel draws pilgrims who seek God in the grandeur of creation.
The chapel was the dream of Monsignor Joseph Bosetti, a Denver priest and accomplished mountaineer who founded Camp St. Malo in 1916. Bosetti believed that young men needed contact with wild nature to develop their souls—and that the mountains could bring them closer to God. The chapel he built embodies that vision: a simple stone structure perched on a 500-ton boulder, its rough-hewn timbers and small windows framing views of the Continental Divide.
In 2011, Camp St. Malo was destroyed by wildfire. The chapel, miraculously, survived—though the forest around it burned to ash. Today the chapel stands alone on its rock, the charred hillside slowly regenerating around it, a testament to permanence amid destruction. Pilgrims make the short hike from the highway to pray in this intimate space, their voices lifted toward peaks that have stood since creation.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Monsignor Joseph Bosetti arrived in Denver in 1906 as a young priest from Milan. An accomplished mountaineer who had climbed in the Alps, he fell in love with the Colorado Rockies and became determined to share their spiritual power with young people.
In 1916, Bosetti established Camp St. Malo near Allens Park as a summer camp for Catholic boys. The camp grew to include a lodge, dormitories, and playing fields. But Bosetti dreamed of a chapel that would capture the essence of mountain spirituality.
In 1936, with funds from Monsignor William Higgins, Bosetti built St. Catherine Chapel atop a massive rock formation on the camp grounds. The stonework was accomplished by master craftsman O.G. Hallett. The chapel was named for St. Catherine of Siena, the 14th-century Dominican mystic known for her contemplative spirituality.
The chapel served Camp St. Malo for decades, with generations of campers attending Mass overlooking the peaks. The camp also hosted Pope John Paul II for a brief retreat during his 1993 visit to Denver for World Youth Day.
On September 4, 2011, the Pole Hill Fire swept through the area, destroying most of Camp St. Malo's buildings. The chapel, standing isolated on its rock with fire burning all around, survived with only minor smoke damage. The camp never reopened, but the chapel remains accessible to pilgrims.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Allens Park
St. Catherine of Siena Chapel (Chapel on the Rock)
A chapel built on a boulder at 9,000 feet
This simple stone chapel, measuring only 18 by 32 feet, perches atop a granite boulder overlooking Mount Meeker and the Continental Divide. The interior features rough-hewn timber beams, a simple altar, and windows framing mountain vistas. The chapel is open for private prayer; Mass is celebrated on summer Sundays.
Rocky Mountain National Park
The national park, just minutes away, offers countless opportunities for contemplation in nature. Long's Peak (14,259 feet) dominates the skyline.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Summer Sunday Masses
Mass is celebrated at the chapel on summer Sunday mornings, weather permitting.
Feast of St. Catherine of Siena — April 29
The chapel's patronal feast.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Romantic RiverSong Inn ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (B&B) — Charming bed and breakfast in Estes Park. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Stanley Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Historic hotel in Estes Park, inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Holiday Inn Express Estes Park ⭐⭐⭐ — Modern, well-appointed hotel in Estes Park with mountain views and complimentary breakfast; practical base for the Rocky Mountain pilgrimage. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Denver International Airport (DEN) is 70 miles southeast.
By Car: From Denver, take I-25 north to Highway 66 west, then Highway 7 toward Estes Park. The chapel is on Highway 7 south of Estes Park.
🔗 Useful Links
Camp St. Malo — Chapel information.
Archdiocese of Denver — Diocesan information.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Mother Cabrini Shrine, Golden (100 km south) — Mountain shrine dedicated to America's first citizen saint.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; whence shall help come to me? My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." — Psalm 121:1–2 (NABRE)
