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Devils Lake with kids

Original Post
Howard Rice · · WI · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 0

Looking to do a day outing with my family which includes a 4 and 6 year old. Looking for a place with an easy approach (my 4 year old gets tired pretty fast and I don’t want to carry him). I’m also looking for a spot that the kids will have fun climbing at. Preferable a place that’s comfortable to sit around. I don’t want to worry about the kids falling off anything. Anyone with past experience taking the kids out for the first time? A first good route for the vertically challenged? The kids have been to the gym but this will be their first outdoor experience.

Thanks in advance.

James Schroeder · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined May 2002 · Points: 3,166
alpinejason · · Minneapolis · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 176

Get there early. Popular for just those reasons.

alpinejason · · Minneapolis · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 176

Super chill approach. 5-10 min. from car. Maybe 100 feet vertical gain. Path to the rocks from the west bluff trail should be clear.

James Schroeder · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined May 2002 · Points: 3,166

Stettner's has the most casual approach in the park to anything that is roped climbing.

Howard Rice · · WI · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 0

Thank you.

James Schroeder · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined May 2002 · Points: 3,166
powhound84 wrote:Awesome, thanks guys! James, I keep expecting to run into you at the lake. Been up there a few times recently but was with family and friends so I didn't bother contacting any serious climbers to come along for the shit show haha. Went on of some of your advice to get set up on some good climbs tho, so thank you! Still hoping we can make it out together some time this season! Thinkin about picking up trad next year so I'd love to follow some of your leads if we get a chance to get out. Sorry to hijack ur thread, outofstep80!
Just let me know when you're in the mood - I'm usually around!
Sean Peter · · IL · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 105

Stettner is very easy approach (Easier that Misery even- and WAY easier than East Rampart) and a very decent sized hangout- there IS a drop off at the outer edge of the hangout if they aren't careful though… But yeah- bound to be packed with people. Even if you get there early a big group will likely show up if its a weekend. Same info with Misery Rocks- that's why they are popular I guess.

Not the absolute best hangout- but very easy hike and a reasonable enough base is Elephant Rocks. And some great easy climbs to set up for the kids.

We've also done Steinke Basin- (Steinke Wall) and the kids pretty much could ride their bikes all the way to the wall on the bike path. (4 & 6yo) - but approach it from the East (not the campground) if you want the easier hill for them to bike. Closer, but steeper from the campground. And gets more overgrown and buggy as the season goes on. Not nearly as great of climbs as Elephant for the kids.

I've yet to check out the North Shore bouldering or Burma rd boulders - but may do that for our next outing with the kids. They are pretty happy with the short stuff and those are both supposed to have super super short approaches. I'd imagine there are some possibilities to set up some very short class 4 or 5.supereasy top ropes somewhere (without having seen it) even though it's just bouldering.

OR- our kids have done just fine at the East Rampart - reasonable enough hangout. But it IS a hike for them. Mainly you just need a bag of M&M's to dish out one at a time at very regular intervals to get them up there :) - Id probably only do that on off days though...

Oh- and never a bad idea to take along a closed cell foam thermarest or the like for them to chill out on at the base. Kinda defines a hangout space for them- is comfortable, and they might just crash out for a while and let the parents climb!

Howard Rice · · WI · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 0

Thank you. Appreciate the info.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Midwest
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