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Best cragging with kids

Original Post
Adam Paashaus · · Greensboro, NC · Joined May 2007 · Points: 791

Last year we spent a week and a half at the City of Rocks and found that perfect. This year We are splitting our trip and spending a week in Yosemite, but we are looking for input for the 1st leg. We are thinking that we will go back to the "City" unless we find something as or more appealing. We're looking for single pitch moderates, mostly trad(5.7-5.10+). J-Tree was on the list but the heat seems a bit more than we want to deal with (June). Anything a days drive is fair game. Anything as good as the City?

Adam Paashaus · · Greensboro, NC · Joined May 2007 · Points: 791

The kids wont necessarily climb so the most important thing is having a family friendly area for hanging out below climbs and good camping. We have added Smith Rock to the list. I know its mostly sport but since the area seems great for the family and its closer proximity to the Valley it has grown on me. I'd love to go back to the City but I've been there and I'd love to see a new world class area.

M Mobley · · Bar Harbor, ME · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 911
Josh Cameron wrote:Puppy Crack in Tuolumne is a fun climb at 5.6. Locals Only Wall at Benton Crag may be a good bet for you, too. Sounds like a fun trip
first time I've ever seen the Benton crag mentioned anywhere and I'll second it, good camping as well but only a couple days of climbing. Leave the camp set up and go spend a few days at ORG in the shade and hot spring it at night
Andrew Gram · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 3,725

Rushmore and the Needles in the Black Hills is terrific for family climbing.

Fat Dad · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 60
Adam Paashaus wrote:The kids wont necessarily climb so the most important thing is having a family friendly area for hanging out below climbs and good camping.
That's a good realization that some people fail to recognize. On a similar site, in response to a query for places to hike with kids, someone chimed in that unless your 5 year old is "lazy", he/she should be able to hike 10-12 miles with a couple thousand feel of elevation gain. I was going to respond by saying that this dad sounded like a dick, but I'm sure his kids know already, so I didn't bother.

You're right that Josh will be way too hot in June. It would be a great place otherwise, just not then. Other options to consider might be Rock Creek (Iris Slab) or the Mammoth area, which has some fun, easy stuff near Horseshoe Lake, and then Clark Canyon nearby, or even the Catacombs if they want to wander/scramble through those. Tuloumne is terrific as well, for the scenery and hiking as much as the climbing. I'm trying to make that happen for the family this summer. I got to think there's probably a nice venue near Tahoe, but I'm not really familiar with that area so I can't say for sure.
Andy Laakmann · · Bend, OR · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,990

You'll be hard-pressed to find shady, easily-accessible cragging at Smith in June. Most of the main area of Smith roasts in June, and you need to scramble over the pass (or walk the long way around) to find shade. And the scramble over the pass is definitely not young-kid friendly.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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