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Looking for Utah beta

Original Post
TheBirdman Friedman · · Eldorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 65

I'm going to be driving from Boulder to South Lake Tahoe around June 1st. It seems like the midpoint and logical place to stop is SLC. I'm not in any sort of rush so if I have to go a few hours out of my way, it's not a problem. Here's what I'm looking for.

1) Dog-friendly, I'll have my best friend in tow.
2) Bouldering, unless you want to partner up for the day.
3) Cheap, non-sketchy camping close to the climbing.
4) Beer, food, etc. close by would be nice but not necessary.

I was thinking Joe's Valley, but I'm sure some of the Utah locals will have a better idea. Suggestions?

BackCountry Sortor · · Ogden, UT · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 400

Joe's Valley:
1)****
2)*****
3)***
4)**

Triassic:
1)****
2)****
3)***
4)**

LCC:
1)*?
2)*****
3)**
4)**

Ogden:
1)***
2)***
3)*
4)**

Price:
1)***
2)***
3)***
4)**

I'd go to Joe's Valley and Triassic. They're within a 30min drive of each other

TheBirdman Friedman · · Eldorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 65

Any specifics on the camping? Also, I realize it's June, but my dog is a husky. Is the heat out there going to kill him?

Miller Miller · · Salt Lake · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 75

ibex,
bring your own water, beer.....

Brian in SLC · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 21,711

No dogs in BCC and LCC, fyi.

If you're willing to drive a couple hours out of your way, maybe City of Rocks in Idaho?

Lange Jeffries · · South Lake Tahoe, CA · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 0

Do it all man. Its all so close. AF or maple for sport. The city is great. If you go to the city check out logen canyon.

Lange Jeffries · · South Lake Tahoe, CA · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 0

Do it all man. Its all so close. AF or maple for sport. The city is great. If you go to the city check out logen canyon.

Ben Beard · · Superior, AZ · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 215

bring your own beer if you going to Utah

sevrdhed · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 155

Take the route to Tahoe that goes down I-70. When you're near Green River, take your pick - either head south to Moab and go bouldering at big bend (or if you can find a partner, rope up on some of the killer routes out there), or head north towards Joes Valley.

Both of these areas have everything you want - they're dog friendly, they both have camping right next to the climbing, they both have towns within a 20 minute drive of the climbing where you can buy food/beer/provisions, etc. Both are also popular enough that when you get there, you'll be able to find plenty of other people to climb with if you so desire (pro-tip; pretend not to be from Boulder and people in Utah will love you more. And brush your tickmarks).

Don't go to SLC - you can't take your dog into BCC and LCC which eliminates the majority of climbing in the Salt Lake valley, including any camping options.

If you do pick one of these, PM me or post back up here and I'll spray you down with camping and climbing beta.

Also, ignore suggestions of bringing your own beer to Utah, we have several award winning breweries that put out some absolutely kickass beers. Just gotta find 'em in a liquor store.

BackCountry Sortor · · Ogden, UT · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 400

Ignore the post about ignoring the post about bringing your own beer. If you're coming into Utah absolutely bring your own beer. Utah liquor stores have a good selection, but there are only a couple liquor stores for every large town (which are hard to spot), they close wicked early and it's expensive. There's a reason why Evanston, WY Franklin, ID and other border towns make so much on beer sales. As a matter of fact, if you're coming through N. Utah, hit me up we can boulder in Ogden and I might like you to pick me up some fine beers on your way!

Brian in SLC · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 21,711
BackCountry wrote:Ignore the post about ignoring the post about bringing your own beer. If you're coming into Utah absolutely bring your own beer. Utah liquor stores have a good selection, but there are only a couple liquor stores for every large town (which are hard to spot), they close wicked early and it's expensive. There's a reason why Evanston, WY Franklin, ID and other border towns make so much on beer sales.
Well, maybe ignore the above too...ha ha.

Some prices (per bottle):

Full Sail IPA 1.08
Squatters Hop Rising 1.49
Unibroue Trois Pistole 2.36
Sierra Nevada Torpedo 1.35

Post up those cheaper Evanston and/or Idaho prices!
sevrdhed · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 155
Brian in SLC wrote: Well, maybe ignore the above too...ha ha. Some prices (per bottle): Full Sail IPA 1.08 Squatters Hop Rising 1.49 Unibroue Trois Pistole 2.36 Sierra Nevada Torpedo 1.35 Post up those cheaper Evanston and/or Idaho prices!
That unibroue is awesome.

Oh, and the devastator? mmmmm. And it's like $1.39. Same with the Uinta Barleywine, it's delicious and it's like $1.69. Not to mention Epic brewery, which opened just a couple of weeks ago and has already won awards. Their Imperial Red was amazing.

Let me guess, next you're going to say there's no good restaurants in Utah.
timothyrgriffen Griffen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 35

Salt Lake City is a good midpoint. The only bummer being the best climbing is in Little Cottonwood and it's a watershed, aka no dog's allowed. Same goes for Big Cottonwood canyon. Ferguson Canyon however stays nice and cool, it's between BCC and LCC, and it's dog friendly. American Fork just 30 minutes south of SLC is nice and cool, dog friendly, and has some free camping at the top of the canyon. Joe's Valley is great, but 2 hours out of your way and it will be pretty hot. If you don't mind driving two hours out of your way I would hit Maple Canyon, much cooler so it's going to be way better for the dog. Have fun.

BackCountry Sortor · · Ogden, UT · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 400

I don't have the time to research prices in Evanston or Franklin, but I will retort, that I meant it's expensive in time. ;-) Really though, when you factor the time it takes to track down a liquor store in Utah compared to just rolling into a "convenience" store in other states. It's so much more convenient!

I'm a huge fan of our breweries, love the Devastator and will be checking out the Epic Brewery real soon.

P.S. Could you imagine this event in Utah:?

Let's go!

sevrdhed · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 155
BackCountry wrote: that I meant it's expensive in time. ;-)
Fair enough. I'm lucky enough to have a liquor store about 4 blocks from my office, so being able to get to the liquor store is never really a big issue for me. But I agree, it'd be nice if liquor store beers were available everywhere.

And did you attend the Tour de Brewtah? Bike riding + beer = win. And it was even here in utah, who'd have thought?

Also, Tim's suggestions are good - if you have a partner. Not much in the way of bouldering in AF, Maple, and Fergy though.
BackCountry Sortor · · Ogden, UT · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 400

I didn't realize until tonight... foot in mouth!

Utah Beer Festival

tradryan · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 63
BackCountry wrote:There's a reason why Evanston, WY Franklin, ID and other border towns make so much on beer sales.
Because they're all drunks? If you can't find beer in utah you just aren't trying.
BackCountry Sortor · · Ogden, UT · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 400
tradryan wrote: Because they're all drunks? If you can't find beer in utah you just aren't trying.
Not the point tardryan. The point is, it's much easier to find beer in Colorado.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern Utah & Idaho
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