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Destination climbing in the USA similar to the RRG

Original Post
MarcHL · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2014 · Points: 0

I love camping and climbing in the Red because of it's rural/backwoods lack of amenities and distance from the city.

Do you have a suggestion for destinations that have similar qualities (an hour or more from any significant population center) with a similar community of climbers?

Cheers and thanks

Ben Mackall · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 1,823

Rumney, NH.
Ten Sleep, WY.
City of Rocks/ Castle Rocks, ID
Smith Rock, OR (Bend is close but isn't THAT big)
New River Gorge, WV

LLubchenco · · Carbondale, CO · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 25

Seconded on Ten sleep and City of Rocks.
Also, Lander, Wy is only a few hours from Ten Sleep and boasts Wild Iris which is pretty darn out there, low key, and amazing limestone.
Have fun climbing!

Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665

And nobody brings up Unaweep?
Huh - pretty lonely out there.

Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349

Owens River ..... camp for free in the Pinion Pines, never go to town.

MarcHL · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2014 · Points: 0

Thanks y'all....these all look great.

And holy crap does Unaweep look sweet on street view! I have driven the road through Paradox to Moab before and I love seeing the potential on that side of Color-Rad-o.

Bonus points for any pizza/gear shops too!

Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665

Uh-huh...

Chalcopyrite is a nice looking wall at Sunset!

That's just one of the smaller lesser-know crags in the canyon.

ASid · · SF, CA · Joined May 2013 · Points: 15

I will have to disagree with NRG. Fayetteville is a pretty big little town, there are tons of tourists and that area has the best 4G LTE service I have ever seen. (I still love the New though)

I'd have to add Seneca to the list. The town has a total of like, 5 buildings, and you have no service for miles.

ZANE · · Cleveland, OH · Joined May 2011 · Points: 20

Definitely Seneca, although it's mostly trad. I didn't get the rural feel too much in the Red. There are places to go if you want it. In seneca, no cell forever lol.

Also I would just start going into the alpine for several days at a time because it's way cooler.

Go Back to Super Topo · · Lex · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 285

In my years of climbing I have found it damn near impossible to beat the red in terms of everything you mentioned....with that said, Ten Sleep is the closest thing to it in terms of rural and community.

Next closest would be the Obed in TN

If you dont mind paying then Horseshoe Canyon Ranch has a good community and ruralness

The New as well, though staying long term is much harder than the Red (in comparison Stanton, and Campton are both similar in size to Fayetteville, smaller but similar)

Most places do not have both RURAL and COMMUNITY. This is what makes the red so unique and easy for people to travel solo and climb long term. I will say that Ten Sleep, Lander, and the Lily Pad (at the Obed) all offer rural communities

Go Back to Super Topo · · Lex · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 285
ASid wrote:I will have to disagree with NRG. Fayetteville is a pretty big little town, there are tons of tourists and that area has the best 4G LTE service I have ever seen. (I still love the New though) I'd have to add Seneca to the list. The town has a total of like, 5 buildings, and you have no service for miles.
I don't think it's fair to compare amenities, Miguels has showers, free wi-fi and you camp behind a dang RESTAURANT so I dont think having 4G LTE shuould factor into it. I will say Fayetteville definitely has a much less rural "in-the-woods" feel than the red does (even at Miguels). The Red has it's fair share of tourists too, Have you ever been to miguels and had to wait behind 15+ tourists who don't have clue how to order there? I know I have.
Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

Could maybe try table rock if you are looking for something away from the world. Not completely in the middle of nowhere but good hour drive down gravel roads to the nearest business.

You aren't going to have the mass of climbers like the the red but likely to have some.

J. Serpico · · Saratoga County, NY · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 140

Not quite sure if this is appropriate simply because unlike the Red or Gunks there isn't an epicenter of climbing beyond Keene Valley/Lake Placid, but the Adirondacks definitely have few big city amenities, they have crappy cell service, few 24 hour gas stations. And in general are pretty remote despite being within 8 hour drive of like 1/4 of the US population.

What they do have is isolated climbing, where you will often have the entire cliff to yourself, and plenty of free camping on state land.

Adam Paashaus · · Greensboro, NC · Joined May 2007 · Points: 791
ViperScale wrote:Could maybe try table rock if you are looking for something away from the world. Not completely in the middle of nowhere but good hour drive down gravel roads to the nearest business. You aren't going to have the mass of climbers like the the red but likely to have some.
This right here applies to pretty much all of NC's great spots. You could jump around NC and camp in National Forest land free and visit all the spots. Cedar Rock, Laurel Knob, All of Linville Gorge, and Looking Glass all have camping in the National Forest off gravel roads. But none will provide a great climber gathering area. You'll run into climbers but they aren't all camping nearby, usually they do day trips or camp more spread out.

No one said Indian Creek in the fall?
or Vedauwoo?

Why do I feel like most of the climbing areas in this country are like this in some capacity? We got it good folks.

The Pizza at "Rock City" right by the City of Rocks turnout is great.
Steven Groetken · · Durango, CO · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 390

Indian Creek is crack climbing paradise. As the crow flies, it's close enough to moab and Monticello, but all the rutted out roads leading to the campsites add quite a bit of extra time to getting anywhere. Pretty much nothing out there but climbers and the occasional tourist taking pictures on their way to canyonlands.

doligo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 264
Steven Groetken wrote:Indian Creek is crack climbing paradise. As the crow flies, it's close enough to moab and Monticello, but all the rutted out roads leading to the campsites add quite a bit of extra time to getting anywhere. Pretty much nothing out there but climbers and the occasional tourist taking pictures on their way to canyonlands.
Not true. First of all there is a working ranch in the canyon, secondly there are all kinds of outdoor recreationalists there at all times. Off-roaders in the spring, families in the summer, retirees in the fall. Winter - that is when you can have it all to yourself (except for the cowboys from the ranch of course). Thanks to all the new giant signs BLM has posted, you'll see more non-climbers camping in Indian Creek. Yes, even the Superbowl has a giant sign now that reads "Superbowl Campground".
Ross Hokett · · Great Falls, MT · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 266

Some places in the ozarks like HCR or sams throne(more remote) fit what your looking for pretty well.

MarcHL · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2014 · Points: 0

How concentrated is Indian Creek? I would have guessed that a climber would see just as many people trail riding, MTB and such as they would other climbers...Not that there is anything wrong with that but a campground or motel packed with climbers is fun on a climbing vacation.

I don't mind waiting in a line full of tourists at Miguel's...I was a first pie fumbler once too!

Thanks for the advice y'all!
Cheers

doligo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 264

If you are in a prime climbing season, say mid-October through mid-November, it'd be more climber-concentrated. The snowbirds' season is winding down, but you'll see an occasional RV here and there at major campgrounds.

wankel7 · · Indiana · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 10
Ross Hokett wrote:Some places in the ozarks like HCR or sams throne(more remote) fit what your looking for pretty well.
I will second that. Sams Throne is very very back country.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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