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Uintah conditions
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My wife's birthday is here and we always camp and she has chosen the Uintahs. I could use advice and info on conditions and locations? I, embarrassingly, will admit to very little Uintah experience. Campground recommendations (tent not camper) and crag choices. Thanks in advance Climb safe, Nathan Fisher |
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Try Cliff Lake or Ruth Lake. Not to far in, good climbing, and nice lakes |
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I don't recall ever camping at any of the established campgrounds but I've walked and driven through a few. Moosehorn is pretty nice. I think most of the sites are first come first serve. Ditto Butterfly. Not sure your dates. If this weekend, likely most sites that are reservable are full and likely the first come first served ones too. Check recreation.gov. Stone Garden and Ruth Lake are pretty popular spots. Parking lots for both were jam packed last Saturday. I've heard the parking lot at Crystal Lake Trailhead has been full on weekends. The area is hugely popular. Week nights and/or during the week would be optimal. Good luck up there. Take bug juice. With this cold front, it'll freeze up there this weekend. Should be warmer next week... |
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Uintahs along the Mirror Lake Highway have become very crowded the last few years. Camping spots in paid campgrounds and primitive spots off the road are increasingly hard to find, especially on weekends. Look into getting a campground reservation. For climbing, I always liked the Sulpher campground. Smaller and not so crowded, pretty sites along the stream, and a short drive back to Stone Garden or Ruth Lake. |
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Lots of smaller crags but as mentioned before ruth lake might be your best bet. IMO best concentration of quality climbs and multiple walls if any are too busy. You can backpack camp in this area. If the nearby roadside campgrounds are full and you don't want to pay, Christmas Meadows road (near the north end of the highway, closer to evanston) has many offshoot dirt roads and free spots, but tends to be popular with RV and RAZR ppl. I go up 3 times a week, bugs are pretty gnarly currently. I'd also recommend stone garden, but there are fewer lines under 5.10. Mosquito wall has lots of easier routes but less quality and scenery, still fun. |
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Honestly there were quite a few road-side free camping spots this weekend still open on saturday pm. It was a colder weekend with a lot of wind so we didn't notice any bugs. We tried a higher crag (Lost and Found) first but the cold wind was pretty unbearable so we retreated to a lower crag (Stone Garden) and it was fine. Obv ymmv. |
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I've always had good luck with camping off of the Trial Lake/Washington Lake road once it turns to the dirt road. Usually lots of options. I was up there two weeks ago and there is still a bit of snow at the base of the Ruth Lake crags, but it may be clearing up now. +1 for Lost and Found. Lots of mellow climbs there, but it's newish, fresh bolts/anchors and the rock is still nice and sharp. |
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Thanks for the responses, Again thanks for your responses and always climb safe Nathan |
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Anyone been up there lately? How crazy are the mosquitoes this year? |
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When I went, I thought the mosquitos weren't that bad but my kids felt they were insane. Maybe my blood is special |
Nathan Fisher wrote: Funny, because we will be taking a couple kids up there with us in a week. I grew up in Washington and climbed a ton in the mountains, so I have grown pretty used to mosquitoes. However, I would feel a little bad if the kiddos get eaten alive. We are going no matter what, so fingers crossed! |
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I've climbed there twice in the last week (Ruth Lake one day, Lost & Found the next), and there were literally no mosquitos while climbing from 10a.m. to 4p.m. They may be bad at night or in the trees, but it has been an amazing surprise compared to other trips. |
Shaun Johnson wrote: IME if you camp at lower elevations (like where aspens grow) the bugs will be way better. Of course, those sites are warmer so pick your poison. |
