Alternatives when Indian Creek is rained out?

Some friends and I are planning a road trip to Indian Creek next week, but unfortunately the weather forecast isn't looking great... We're pretty locked into these dates for work reasons, so what are some good alternatives while waiting for the sandstone to dry? Mainly looking for moderate trad (5.6-5.10) or slightly harder sport climbing on non-sandstone, or good day hikes. Also interested in other cool roadside attractions if they're worth the time. Ideally it would be something close enough to get back to the Creek in a reasonable amount of time once the weather improves. We're coming from Seattle, so stuff on the northwest-ish side is more appealing because it means less driving.

Limestone and basalt in N Arizona 

Ibex could get hit by the same storms but it’s quartzite and dries fast. There is waaaay less available beta but it’s a dope area that is worth exploring. 

City of rocks and the Salt Lake City, Little Cottonwood Granite are other great options that are on your way but close enough to jet down to the creek if it dries out. 

bearded samwrote:

City of rocks and the Salt Lake City, Little Cottonwood Granite are other great options that are on your way but close enough to jet down to the creek if it dries out. 

City of Rocks to the Creek is about an 8 hour drive. With recent storms I’d guess that the roads require 4x4 and are impassable above Bath Rock. Little Cottonwood just got 15” of snow. 

Consider if you are looking for:

(1) Somewhere near Indian Creek to divert to for a few days mid-trip if wet? 

(2) Somewhere to stop on the way from Seattle to Indian Creek, to bide your time a few days and hope it dries out at the Creek?

(3) Bail on the Indian Creek idea and go somewhere totally different.?

JCMwrote:

Question unclear. Are you looking for:

(1) Somewhere near Indian Creek to divert to for a few days mid-trip if wet? 

(2) Somewhere to stop on the way from Seattle to Indian Creek, to bide your time a few days and hope it dries out at the Creek?

(3) Bail on the Indian Creek idea and go somewhere totally different.?

For (1), just take a few days to explore the Moab area. Arches, Deadhorse Point, etc. Amazing place to hike around. A bit of rain shouldn't cause you too much grief. Just stay out of the slot canyons.

For (2), maybe the southern Idaho basalt. Dierkes Lake, Teddy Bear Cove, etc. Not a world class destination by any means, but it's right on the way from Seattle to Moab, is at lower elevation, and gets a lot of sun. Weather looks great there for the first half of next week. Reasonable option when higher elevation crags line City of Rocks are snowed out.

For (3), It's prime season at the Owens River Gorge, and the weather next week looks great. Tons of moderate sport climbing, great camping, nice scenery. A shorter drive from Seattle also.

What are your dates? Looks to me like weather clears out for next week. The sun is really warm right now. If it’s this weekend, then yeah, rough hit. But next week looks to be shaping up alright.

JCMwrote:

Consider if you are looking for:

(1) Somewhere near Indian Creek to divert to for a few days mid-trip if wet? 

(2) Somewhere to stop on the way from Seattle to Indian Creek, to bide your time a few days and hope it dries out at the Creek?

(3) Bail on the Indian Creek idea and go somewhere totally different.?

I think both 1 and 2 are options depending exactly on the forecast. I think at this point we wouldn't bail completely unless it was going to rain literally all week. Thanks for your suggestions about alternatives!

Cory Nwrote:

What are your dates? Looks to me like weather clears out for next week. The sun is really warm right now. If it’s this weekend, then yeah, rough hit. But next week looks to be shaping up alright.

Planning to arrive on Sunday and stay still next Saturday. Looks like Sunday is probably a no-go, and the forecast on Google shows some more rain coming in the middle of the week. Is there a more accurate forecast that shows something different?

Jacob Brunettewrote:

I think both 1 and 2 are options depending exactly on the forecast. I think at this point we wouldn't bail completely unless it was going to rain literally all week. Thanks for your suggestions about alternatives!

Planning to arrive on Sunday and stay still next Saturday. Looks like Sunday is probably a no-go, and the forecast on Google shows some more rain coming in the middle of the week. Is there a more accurate forecast that shows something different?

Hmmmm I just looked at the forecast on google and it looks alright for the next week, if just a bit cold(but you’d be in the sun). I’d say hike around Moab or San Rafael Swell on your way there. Most of the week looks fine

Jacob Brunettewrote:

I think both 1 and 2 are options depending exactly on the forecast. I think at this point we wouldn't bail completely unless it was going to rain literally all week. Thanks for your suggestions about alternatives!

Planning to arrive on Sunday and stay still next Saturday. Looks like Sunday is probably a no-go, and the forecast on Google shows some more rain coming in the middle of the week. Is there a more accurate forecast that shows something different?

Nothing beats boots on the ground observations, but the NWS is pretty accurate. You’ll be climbing on Tuesday is my guess. Weather here is super localized, so the rain and snow is often happening in the Abajos and missing the creek. If it is snowing there is some touring to be done in the Abajos, send me a message and we can connect if that’s your thing.

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-109.56206703709906&lat=38.089404617148546

Addy Swrote:

Hmmmm I just looked at the forecast on google and it looks alright for the next week, if just a bit cold(but you’d be in the sun). I’d say hike around Moab or San Rafael Swell on your way there. Most of the week looks fine

I think this is the best suggestion based on current forecast. A few days hiking/exploring in the Swell and around Moab on Sunday-Monday would not at all be wasted days. The desert hiking is just as great and attraction as the climbing. Then start climbing once the rock is reasonably dried out (Tuesday?).

JCMwrote:

I think this is the best suggestion based on current forecast. A few days hiking/exploring in the Swell and around Moab on Sunday-Monday would not at all be wasted days. The desert hiking is just as great and attraction as the climbing. Then start climbing once the rock is reasonably dried out (Tuesday?).

Agree, the swell and Moab area is incredibly vast and hiking and mountain biking in the swell is just incredible and breathtaking. I think Tuesday would be the best day to start climbing though of course it could be different locally

I never understood a day or two of exploring places(hiking) until I reached 40+ years old, climbing stuff was all I could comprehend.  Hiking and skiing the LaSals is pretty darn amazing too, great views from the top!

Cory Nwrote:

Nothing beats boots on the ground observations, but the NWS is pretty accurate. 

Best resource hands down is this weather data captured at the Canyonlands Research Station (Dugout Ranch, across from Res Wall). It's not a forecast, but it gives you hour-by-hour real weather data you can use to inform your decisions. 

https://climate.usu.edu/mchd/dashboard/dashboard.php?network=AGWX&station=1197507&startdate=2024-03-01&enddate=2024-03-31&units=english&showgraph=undefined

Jacob, thank you for for your proactive nature and resolve to protect our shared resource!

I highly recommend scoping out some stuff to do on RoadTripRyan.com.

If you want to get on a rope, canyoneering is a good option. Elephant Butte, Bow and Arrow, Cluster, or nearly anything in Arches NP would be good for folks who know how to rappel and scramble, but don't know much about canyoneering specific techniques and tools.

For hiking, Funnel Arch, Polkadot Man, and Hidden Valley are awesome ways to scramble around and see some arc sites/petroglyths. 

There's also a small gym in Moab if you're itching to climb. If you're too cheap to pay, hit up the fake boulders at Lion's Park.

Lastly, SLC has good climbing this time of year if you're in the sun. Stuff at the bottom of Little Cottonwood Canyon is primo right now as long as it hasn't rained too recently and the sun has dried the rock. I'll bum you a day pass if you want to go to the gym instead.

Remember, just because others are climbing doesn't mean it's dry. People have a tendency to think rock is drier than it actually is depending on how far they hike, drive, or fly to get there.

Thanks for the tips y'all. We ended up spending Sunday climbing granite in Little Cottonwood Canyon and Monday hiking around Moab. We’re going to head out to the Creek tomorrow and see how it looks!