RRG: Miguel's or Land of the Arches?

Hey guys, a couple friends and I are making are first trip down to the Red this coming week. This is our first season leading so we will mostly be sticking to moderate routes and as such we will probably spend the majority of our time in Muir Valley, where it seems like the most appropriate crags will be Bruise Brothers, Practice Wall, Tectonic/Johnny's, Animal Cracker, the Great Wall. Plenty to keep us busy for 5 days. My real reason for posting is to ask whether staying at Miguel's is an absolute can't-miss for first timers at the Red, or if we are better off staying at Land of the Arches which is closer to Muir Valley. Thoughts and advice?

PS, any other helpful beta would be awesome! Thanks!

Miguels for a party, people, wi-fi, showers, summer camp, lago lindas if you want a nice camping experience, quite, beautiful setting, you can always stop by miguels for some pizza, wi-fi to check it out if you camp somewhere else. Depends on what you personally are looking for, Miguels is amazing but can be a bit much at times.

The last time I was at the Red in 2011, Miguel's was party central. The campers were almost all college kids, most of whom were there with large college "outdoor clubs," and a few dirtbags. The place rocked until LATE into the morning, and reminded me more of a frat party than a climber party. YMMV. My last few trips to the Red I stayed at Largo Linda. Its chill, and filled with serious climbers. I know nothing about Arches.

The food at Miguel's is AWESOME! I always eat there and always buy something from their gear store. I encourage you to do the same. Miguel and his family are awesome, and deserve the support of the climbing community.

Miguel's will get tiring if you're there for 5 days. But you could always stop by to check out the scene for your first couple nights. Once you need a good night's sleep, check out LOTA or Lago Linda. Or better yet, get yourself a three-day backcountry camping permit for $5 at the Shell station and pitch your tent in the woods :)

Also, be sure to stop by Red River Rockhouse for dinner at least one night. Great local food, lots of variety, plus they serve beer!

Miguel's, without a doubt.

Seems like people have about covered it as far as Miguel's vs Linda's. I would add that they're both close enough to the crags that it's not really a big deal worrying about that. Also, there's some moderates up north on 11 that you would be closer to from Miguel's.

Cody Ison wrote:Y'all know little about the gorge. Go home FIFO's.

Just got done with my first trip to the red. You gotta experience Miguel's at least via drive by pizza style. Good vibes all around. Red river gorgeous could be an option if you have the funds. Either way the owners of gorgeous are just as deserving of support as Miguel's. take Andy Ms advice.

Miguels is like a Frat party for climbers. It can be a lot of fun but then again if you are more interested in climbing not the best.

Lago Lindas is a good bit farther from all the climbing except the PMRP. But it is nice with individual campsites like you would find at any State Forest Campground.

LOTA is great as there is an inside area for days it rains. It is about half the distance to Muir. You can have your own camping area with a fire pit.
It is kinda like the middle ground of Lagos and Miguels.

Land of the Arches was nice and quiet last time I was there. Miguel's has great pizza, but will be overrun with loud, obnoxious people on the weekends (It's also the cheapest true campground by a couple bucks/night).

I honestly prefer to backcountry camp on forest service land. This has been mentioned, but I'll repeat that you can grab two three night passes from the shell station for $10 and be set. There are a lot of good areas to camp close to the road in the northern gorge area once you are north of the nada tunnel. These are, however pretty far from Muir.

my $.02

Land of Arches has worked better for me than Miguel's. There's even some couches you can crash on and sleeping pads inside. Or you can tent camp outside. It's calmer and more spacious than Miguel's.
BUt Miguel's has awesome pizza, cold drinks, a great gear shop, dogs, a basketball hoop, and super cool people (most of the time). Yet it's loud, crowded, and you won't get much sleep.
+1 Red River Rockhouse. Some of the coolest people on the planet work there.
And stop by the beer trailer to get your booze and check out the badass craig behind it.
Do with that advice what ya want.

LOTA. Go eat a Miguel's, hang there as long as you like, then head out. LOTA quieter, less crowded, and closer to Muir. I am however 40+ and my partying days are long behind me. I am there for the climing not the scene.

Thanks for all the feedback. I still have to consult with my friends but it sounds like LOTA is more our speed, but we'll certainly still swing by Miguel's to check it out, same for the Rockhouse and Beer Trailer. Backcountry camping sounds fun but I might save that for our second trip, just to simplify things a bit.

Also does anyone know of anywhere to swim in the Southern Gorge? It's supposed to be pretty hot next week.

you know you can camp in the forest pretty much at any pullout...just get a pass from the gass station. $5 for a three day pass.

Miguels food is ok and the campsite is meh. There are some perks such as running into old friends and catching up, less concern of theft....but its loud; be it the fratasticness or those damned frogs!!! I have nightmares about those frogs...i always hear them through my ear plugs.

You should look into Skybridge Sation. Its run by some great guys who are very familiar with the RRG. Beer on tap, food, supplies, great consignment rack, and about 12 beds upstairs (think hostel/bunkhouse). They also run KRAG guide service out of the same place. Only place in the RRG to get great locally (Kentucky) brewed beer on tap.

miguels.....just bring ear plugs

Eat and hang at Miguel's, camp at LOTA.

Cody Ison wrote:Y'all know little about the gorge. Go home FIFO's.

melatonin and ear plugs and miguels

Antonio Caligiuri wrote: Also does anyone know of anywhere to swim in the Southern Gorge? It's supposed to be pretty hot next week.