Need some advice on where to spend the summer in a van with a dog

My partner and I will be leaving from Austin, Texas in May and moving to Vegas in August. Trying to get a list of some dog friendly crags for bouldering and sport climbing while in the van over this time. Ideally we would stay west of Austin but we're open to all options. We're in an old econoline so no off-roading, and close to civilization would be nice. Bonus points for a cushy camp ground with electricity and a kitchen, but that's not a necessity. Dog is well trained and we are responsible owners, appreciate all helpful comments.

Four months?  I'd follow the weather.  Check out the climbing areas on the "Route Finder" section on the home page and plan a travel route which makes sense for you. There is a wealth of information there if you do the research.

Give your dog to someone who actually take care of it properly. 

That's not fair .you know nothing about these folks.  The dog won't give a shit that they are living in a van as long as he has his humans to control.  they are just pad people and sport weinies so there will be pleanty of fresh dog asses to smell every day... 

just stay away from national parks with the pooch. 

If you meander as far as southern Idaho, Dierkes Lake near Twin Falls Idaho might be fun, at the start before it gets hot. Fun bouldering, and sport, some other stuff nearby (day trips). You can probably find a KOA or something like that in Twin. There's also a decent climbing gym.

Otherwise? I'm guessing you'll need some elevation to not roast.

Best, Helen

Hi Nick, there is a lot of cheap blm camping and free nfs camping between bishop and mammoth lakes in CA.  Because of the altitude difference between those two towns, it has comfortable temps from May to August somewhere in that 40 miles of 395.
I can’t speak to the dog friendliness of the Buttermilks or Happy or Sad bouldering areas since I never boulder, but I see plenty of dogs in the sport climbing in those towns and in the areas between.

It would help if you would give an idea of where you want to go.  Four months, starting in Austin and ending in Vegas leaves a plethora of options.

The places mentioned earlier in this thread (such as Smith) are rather hot in the summer. Don't go there.

Anyway, actual good summer sport climbing areas: The four most notable summer sport crags for the inter-mountain west are Rifle, Tensleep, Wild Iris, and Maple Canyon. A circuit of all 4 of these areas (in the order listed, for sensible driving order) would be an awesome way to spend the summer. All of these areas have good camping, and dog friendliness ranges from adequate (lease law in Rifle; inconsistently enforced) to excellent. All should be manageable in your janky van (note: the Fins is another awesome summer sport crag, but lack of 4WD would be a bigger issue there, so maybe avoid that one). You'd have a great summer visiting those four areas. Finish off your trip by easing into Vegas life by climbing at Mt. Charleston a bit and getting to know your great new local summer crag.

Other great summer sport climbing areas would be Canmore and Squamish, but this requires vastly more driving to get up that far north.

Good mid summer bouldering options are a bit scarcer due to heat. The best summer bouldering options will be Squamish and the alpine areas of Colorado. The dog-friendliness of those Colorado alpine bouldering areas varies (no dogs at RMNP). Check before you go. Squamish is very dog friendly, and also has good sport climbing, but is a long drive from Austin/Vegas.

Here you go:

Best sport climbing summer trip.  

 Other notes:
--Order of Tensleep and WIld Iris could be switched; either way works.
--If you start your trip in EARLY May, and it is still a bit early for Rifle (still cold/wet), there are some decent options in Norterm NM (El Rito) and southern CO (Pentiente, Shelf Road) where you could spend a week or so while waiting for weather to improve in Rifle. By mid-May Rifle should be good to go (a few walls will still be seeping, but there should be plenty to climb).

Cochise, Moab, Lander, City of Rocks, Ten Sleep......

Mark Frumkin wrote: Cochise, Moab, Lander, City of Rocks, Ten Sleep......

If you get to Tensleep, you may consider the bouldering in Cody. Good van camping on Spirit (Cedar) Mtn. close to excellent, uncrowded, dog friendly boulders.

What Phylip said... but don’t forget Shuteye, Courtright Res, The Needles, Kern Plateau and the Eastside.... all perfect that time of year. You won’t find cushy campsites, but they are free with awesome climbing, zero LEO pressure and friendly climbers. Towns close enuf to go stock up on things.
What JCM says- but I’d check the regulations on bringing a dog into Canada.
Have fun

revans90 wrote: go to colorado 

Ha ha, yeah. You might meet this other guy I knew that was living in his van with a large dog and a really large rabbit. This woman I was seeing had befriended him, as she had developed a habit of doing after her divorce where such friendships were forbidden by her Bible thumping husband. What a delightfully awkward friend he was mixing company with others, especially me! "Hey, my friend wants to hang out with us. Is that cool?" Well, errr, ummmmmmm. Uh. Dude lived in a friend's driveway in Woodland Park and worked at a bar I think. Best part of his lifestyle was, he discovered a shanty shack in the woods nearby and actually took my friend there to make a full meal for on a one burner stove. I shit you not.

So dude, you might make a nice lady friend like that on your van travels with the dog. But leave the rabbit at home, unless you are going to meet some Czech ladies and cook that mother f'er up for your shanty shack dinner. Czechs love eating rabbit.

Guy Keesee wrote: What JCM says- but I’d check the regulations on bringing a dog into Canada.

The regulations on that are pretty chill. Seattle climbers take the dog with them to Squamish all the time. Just make sure you have the certificate to prove rabies vaccination.

grog m wrote: Give your dog to someone who actually take care of it properly. 

Living in a small space (like a den) in close proximity to its people (pack) going on walks in natural places most days sounds like paradise for a dog. When we pack up for a camping trip the dog waits at the door excited and hopeful the whole time. 

I think you all missed the cushy campground with electricity and kitchen part, and close to civilization.

Sorta rules out most, if not all, climbing destinations, lol!

Best, Helen

Not Ten Sleep, or City of rocks, or Moab, or Lander. They all have camping with amenities. 

Down by the river yo.

Tim Stich wrote:

Ha ha, yeah. You might meet this other guy I knew that was living in his van with a large dog and a really large rabbit. This woman I was seeing had befriended him, as she had developed a habit of doing after her divorce where such friendships were forbidden by her Bible thumping husband. What a delightfully awkward friend he was mixing company with others, especially me! "Hey, my friend wants to hang out with us. Is that cool?" Well, errr, ummmmmmm. Uh. Dude lived in a friend's driveway in Woodland Park and worked at a bar I think. Best part of his lifestyle was, he discovered a shanty shack in the woods nearby and actually took my friend there to make a full meal for on a one burner stove. I shit you not.

So dude, you might make a nice lady friend like that on your van travels with the dog. But leave the rabbit at home, unless you are going to meet some Czech ladies and cook that mother f'er up for your shanty shack dinner. Czechs love eating rabbit.

huh?

Mark Frumkin wrote: Not Ten Sleep, or City of rocks, or Moab, or Lander. They all have camping with amenities. 

"Camping with amenities", hmmmmm.....

Different strokes for different folks, eh? A pit toilet is luxury to me, lol! My big upgrade was my Honda CRV, and getting that dialed for sleeping.

But for the OP? Maybe camp like many do, cheaply, then pop for a couch surf or some such now and then. If the weather is too sucked to cook beside your van, it's probably kinda sucked for climbing, too.

What is your requirement for "civilization"? Lotsa people work remotely, are you just after WiFi, or need /want an actual town or city? Makes a big difference!

Leashed dogs are fine at City, and you can all pursue sun or shade. I pack dog treats in my climbing pack for my trips there now, for my new furry friends!

Best, Helen