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There and back again: a NC to Vegas roadtrip. Where to stop?

Original Post
Mark Paulson · · Raleigh, NC · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 141

My partner, his sister, my GF and I will be embarking on a 3 week road trip from NC at the end of March and beginning of April. We have friends that will be in Red Rock April 9th, so that will most likely be our end point. My partner and I have onsighted up to 12a and rp'ed up to 12c/13a. The ladies are both solid 10 climbers. We're looking for mostly sport, although will have pads, and a rack for easy/mixed stuff.

We're starting with two days at the RRG, through Iowa (for a vehicle swap), to the front range for a day or two. Then it's on down through Utah ending up in Vegas.

Possibilities include but are not limited to...

Boulder Canyon
Shelf Road
Arches/Moab
Mill Creek
Joe's Valley/Triassic
St. George
Flagstaff?
Etc.

Unfortunately, I don't see us doing much desert trad or towers. Once we're in Red Rock we'll be with much savvier traddies and will probably be doing some multipitch, but on our own it'll mostly be bolts. We'd also prefer warmer temps, so Mill Creek might be out.

Anyway, anything to not miss, or to definitely miss?

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

Colorado national monument , outside grand Junction could be good. otto's route is a bit trad, but casual and a nice tower 5.9-

There's always Ibex, though it could be real windy.

Or you could go more south and hit NM

Flagstaff could still be a bit chilly

shotgunnelson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2009 · Points: 5

the St. George limestone crags should be nice then. Really high quality sport climbing at the cathedral and shitty ambiance but good climbing at the vrg.

Travis Weil · · Leavenworth, WA · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 0

If you want to break up the drive between the Red and Iowa you could stop in Southern IL at Jackson Falls for some more sport climbing.

Go Back to Super Topo · · Lex · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 285

2 days in the red is not enough unless you know where you are going and have a plan laid out, I guess that goes with a lot of places tho....so never mind me haha

Adam Bunger · · Someplace in the Northeast · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 1,025

do NOT pass on Joe's Valley.

MorganH · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 197

Definitely miss Boulder Canyon and Shelf if you're looking for quality sport.

Flagstaff is ok, but probably not worth it if you've got time constraints.

Rifle might be worth checking out if the weather's good. I second the St George recommendation. Mill Creek is awesome, but pretty high.

Mark Paulson · · Raleigh, NC · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 141

Thanks for the responses-

We've climbed a bunch at the RRG- it's conveniently halfway between NC and Iowa, and so it's a natural place to stop.

So no front range recommendations? I suppose we could push through to Rifle- haven't been there before so it would be nice to check it out.

Looked at Enchanted Tower, which seems awesome. May stop on the way back.

ccanez · · Raleigh, NC · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 60

Flagstaff is nice but I would definitely choose sedona over flagstaff. Its got a lot of multi pitch trad. In all honesty I haven't been able to climb in Sedona at all just a lot of hiking but I have climbed in Flagstaff but Sedona overall just looks like a lot more fun.

Adam Leavy · · Asheville, NC · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 150

Wall Street is a blast in Moab

Nate K · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 240

drive the extra 2 1/2 hours to get to Joshua tree for a day

Stephen Nance · · Boulder, CO · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 385

Rifle s great, but it will either be wet or very cold. That place is one of the colder places in Colorado for its elevation. Just what I have found.. There could be some stuff open, and not seeping, but I would look at the weather before you plan on it.

The only thing worth visiting in Boulder/Front Range would be Eldo, which is mostly gear climbing, but world class..

JJNS · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 531

Spend three days on the front range. Go to boulder canyon on the first day, The Flatirons the second day and Clear Creek on the third day.

Eldo is also really great and if you want to do a day of trad you should definitely check that out.

After that I would highly recommend heading down to Shelf Road and possibly Penitente Canyon if the weather is good. All of these spots have different types of rock. Boulder Canyon is Granite. The Flatirons are Conglomerate Sandstone. Clear Creek is Gneiss and Schist. Shelf is Limestone. Penitente is Volcanic Tuff. So you'll get a little taste of everything.

End of March beginning of April is kinda early for Rifle. If you driving past it on 70 it might be worth checking out. I wouldn't bypass all of the stuff on the front range that is in prime season.

Logic would suggest a southern route on the way there and a more northern route on the way back but the Iowa stop kinda messes that up.

Evan Sanders · · Westminster, CO · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 140
Trav W. wrote:stop in Southern IL at Jackson Falls for some more sport climbing.
DO NOT pass up Jackson falls. It is absolutely gorgeous. It has an overhanging route under a waterfall that goes into the bluest pool you'll ever see in the middle of a forest. Me and my fiancee absolutely loved it and ended up spending an extra day in IL just for that location
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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