Mountain Project Logo

A Couple of Jackson Falls Questions..

Original Post
Robert Omann · · Minneapolis, MN · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 65

Planning a spring trip down to Jackson Falls and I had a couple of logistical camping questions i was hoping someone could help me with

1. Water... Pack it in vs. Filtering...

Is the water found in the streams safe to drink after being filtered? or would you recommend bringing multiple gallons of water in large containers...we'll be there 4 days

2. Firewood Is there enough scattered, dead, and down on the ground to facilitate decent size fires every night? Or would you suggest bringing a couple of bundles of good hardwood to supplement what you can gather?

3. Camping locations: found this on another website "If you happen to be down there on a busy weekend, drive past the main parking lot where there is camping on both THE RIGHT AND LEFT. Those usually fill up first. Head down the road another quarter mile or so and see a small area on the right. That campsite is directly above and to the left of Pete's Lead Easy Slab Easy Gully area. If that is taken, drive down the road for a a couple of miles. There is a corral on the right and a small road on the left. Large camping area graveled and cleared out. You'll probably want to drive back to the main parking in the morning to access the majority of the climbs..."

Is this accurate? if we have a large group...that has been known to be a bit loud...would the first site a quarter mile down on the right be the best option if available?

Any advice is appreciated...

Thanks!

Rigggs24 · · Denver, CO · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 45

Bobby,

Its been a few years since I have been there so things may have changed a little. When I used to go there, I would take a fair amount of water but I would bring a filter as a back up. In the spring you should be fine with having nice creek water right by the camp. In more dry months, the creek by the camp has been pretty well dried up.

I was always able to find plenty of wood within walking distance but it probably wouldnt hurt to take a few good sized logs.

I have never camped in the place further down the road and last time I was there, the road past the campsite was pretty much for Jeeps only. Kinda nasty wash outs in the road and what not. And if you all are quite loud you may make some others unhappy. i would try to find a campsite on one of the far ends of the area.

Jackson is a really fun place in a nice environment. On the warmer days, it is really nice to take a dip in the pool below the falls after a day of climbing. Have fun.

Gary Owen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 20

Bobby,

Bring your own water in to save time and trouble! If you are gonna go car camping then make it as convenient as possible, I say!

Bringing wood is always nice to maintain resources. Bring TP as well, in case the toilet is inadequately stocked.

Have fun!
Gary

Cocanower · · The High Country · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 55

yo man jackson was my home crag a time ago. super sick! get on yosemite slab with headlamp for some nighttime fun after a few brews. but idk about drinking out of the stream could be dry depending on the year.

Josh Olson · · Durango, CO · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 255
Bobby Omann wrote:Firewood Is there enough scattered, dead, and down on the ground to facilitate decent size fires every night? Or would you suggest bringing a couple of bundles of good hardwood to supplement what you can gather?
Buy firewood locally if you can. Bringing wood from way away is a great way to spread tree disease/bugs.
mattmaxwell · · southern indiana · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 35

Water: Pack it in. Filtering is possible in the spring, but it's normally a short hike from camp to climb.

Firewood: Definitely bring some in. The areas have been scavenged. The recent storms may have knocked more down, but my guess is it's still sparse unless you walk around and drag wood. If you want to buy, there's a local who sells firewood very cheap. Just past the Ozark Post Office (a trailer) is a house on the left; he has a small sign hanging off the porch.

Camping: The spring is nowhere near as busy as the fall, so you should be safe at any site. Normally the larger (and, thus, louder) groups camp at the main lot, or across from it (road to the left after the first creek). Another popular camp site is what we call "The Pines"...and is probably what they refer to as being across from the corral. It's less than a mile from main site, large flat ground, but is also a thoroughfare sometimes for locals on their ATVs (at 3am). There are a number of sites in between that will hold 10 people.

Feel free to private message me if you need. I spend a lot of time camping/climbing at Jax.

m

Robert Omann · · Minneapolis, MN · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 65

Thanks for the input guys...

We'll bring plenty of water...with a filter for a backup

Josh if we do bring additional firewood i feel like we'll be able to buy it in one of the adjacent towns. I just didn't want to get all the way to the crag, set up camp, and realize that we should have splurged for a bundle or two

Good to know that the road turns gnar the further along you go...

Thanks again

Jay F. Weekly · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2007 · Points: 10

More important than water- Bring beer. The situation may have changed since I was last there, but I'm pretty sure the surrounding county is dry.

mattmaxwell · · southern indiana · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 35

Yes, as Jay recommends, bring lots of beer. It's almost a 30 minute drive to the closest beer...

Drew McWilson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 115

1. There will definitely be plenty of water to filter (always filter water from streams, not worth the risk)

2. Bring firewood, but buy locally as others have said. I was there 3 month and the place is picked clean of downed dry wood.

3. There are plenty of camping spots past the main parking lot and it is not a jeep road as others have said. I've taken a pontiac bonneville down that way, you just have to be careful crossing the creek, but after the creek crossing it's easy driving to several more much larger camping spots.

It'll be wet in the spring, so plan your climbs accordingly. Some climbs won't be climbable even after several dry days.

Have fun

Robert Omann · · Minneapolis, MN · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 65

I'm wondering about current conditions now down in SoIll...

We are planning on heading down may 23rd, but have recently talked to some other climbers from minnesota who got essentially shut down by wet rock and heat.

Is it just dependant on the humidity/conditions of the each particular day? or is it just a really wet spring down there? the weather has been weird this year for sure...

The whole canyon was described to us as swampy and unpleasant

but the 10 day forecast seems dryer and crisper...could that help?

although this May could be like july and it wouldn't suprise me.

I think general consensus is that if it's in the 70's and the humidity seems relatively low we are going for it... if the forecast is wet, upper 80's and humid, we may head to south dakota instead.

Does that seem fair?

any other advice would be appreciated

Jeremy K · · Evergreen, CO · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 0

It is always a wet spring down there. May can be nice but it is not the best month. Definitely don't drive 11+ hours if the forecast is wet, humid 80s. What climbs and grades are you looking at?

JF sits down in a bowl so the humidity is amplified. I always found the RRG was nicer in May, since many of the cliffs are up on hillsides.

Robert Omann · · Minneapolis, MN · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 65

but if the forecast is 70's with low humidity things will likely be fine?

all grades i would say...mixed abilities group

But a lot of 12- climbs on the radar for the bulk of the group..

Energizer, Detox Mountain, Who needs Friends,

some stuff in the promised land...

Jeremy K · · Evergreen, CO · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 0

70s would be good to go for me. The classic overhanging 12s stay dry, like Beaver Wall, Detox, Promised Land. I find the crux of Energizer is always manky, but maybe you'll be lucky (it looks better than it climbs anyways). Techy stuff like Big Star wall is often wet. Some of the 9s and below can be pretty manky but there are a lot of good dry 10s. 11s are hit or miss.

If it gets hot and humid the overhung 12s can get pretty hard even if they are dry. Those darn sloper jugs...

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Midwest
Post a Reply to "A Couple of Jackson Falls Questions.."

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.