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Areas OK for dogs, camping with good climbing in winter?

Original Post
mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120

My wife and I will be mini van camping around the SW this winter. If we didn;t have the canines (they are older, mellow dogs, and have some troubles with steeper rocky approaches), we'd frequent JT, red rocks etc, but with them we need locations that allow pooches. Cochise is on the list, but that's the only place I have climbed in AZ. Looking for ideas/info where to spend quality time climbing camping recreating in the colder months.

mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120

Do I need to know the secret handshake or something?

Bob Pettit · · Cave Creek, AZ · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 205

Paridise forks for great bassalt trad climbing or jacks canyon for sport come to mind for potential areas

Ed Wright · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2006 · Points: 285

El Potrero Chico.

Free camping, dogs welcome, cheap food and beer, bolted multi-pitch up to 23 pitches.

Leify Guy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 367

tons and tons of good areas in the southern Utah/ Nevada/ Arizona area

mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120

Thanks, guys. Specific recommendations especially regarding the pooches would be very very welcome.

Ed, I would seriously love to spend time at El Potrero, but am still too spooked by the cartel and travel warning nonsense. Even though it probably is mostly just nonsense, I am supposed to keep stress levels super low and would be on edge.

Red · · Tacoma, Toyota · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 1,625

Pretty much anything below 5000 foot elevation should be nice. I'd recommend my favorite spots to you, but you need a good off road vehicle for those spots, not a mini van. Cochise might be your best bet in AZ for winter camping.

sonvclimbing · · bolder city · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 25

keyhole canyon, NV dog friendly. No leash required. short mellow approaches.

mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120
Red wrote:Pretty much anything below 5000 foot elevation should be nice. I'd recommend my favorite spots to you, but you need a good off road vehicle for those spots, not a mini van. Cochise might be your best bet in AZ for winter camping.
It is not your usual mini van. Also not a burly tricked out off road 4x4, but it is actually a 4x4 hi/lo slightly lifted with moderate ground clearance. I drove it into the election wall area at the creek last week, if you are at all familar with that little 4x4 crux.
Red · · Tacoma, Toyota · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 1,625

In that case, look into the Dry Canyon as an additional spot you can check out if you head towards Cochise. It's about 30 minutes from West Cochise. It's limestone sport climbing. Consider the Promised Land and Sullivan's Canyon near Chino Valley, AZ as other options. Promised Land has a lot of dirt roads, you may or may not make it in, not sure what your mini van can handle. If you had true high clearance 4x4 I would recommend other areas as well.

Promised Land and Sullies

mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120

Thanks, lots of good info to start!

How about camping around the Payson area?

Leify Guy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 367
mountainhick wrote:Thanks, lots of good info to start! How about camping around the Payson area?
Payson area will be cold and snowy during the winter months
mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120
Leif E wrote: Payson area will be cold and snowy during the winter months
Hmm
Manny Rangel · · PAYSON · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 4,788

I've camped in Payson in winter. In a tent during dry spells. You'll be fine in a van.

Old dogs might take a moment to reach Isolation Canyon but they can chill.

Leify Guy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 367
mountainhick wrote: Hmm
I just checked, I think you were referring to Payson, Arizona... I was referring to Payson, Utah... Payson, Utah will definitely be cold.
Justin Compton · · Erie, CO · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 785
mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120
Leif E wrote: I just checked, I think you were referring to Payson, Arizona... I was referring to Payson, Utah... Payson, Utah will definitely be cold.
Yes, AZ
mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120
John Wilder wrote:Red Rock is pretty dog friendly- i don't even know if there's a leash rule (although it would be wise to put them on leash at the start of all of the main trailheads simply due to crowds). just about every local climber but me has a crag dog- although some approaches can be a bit tough, most are fine.

Hot dang! Thanks. Yes indeedy, another helpful MP member sent me a PM about it too. Glad to find I was mistaken about that, and defintely will spend some time at Red Rocks!

I checked the BLM Red Rocks website and yes there is a leash law.
Red · · Tacoma, Toyota · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 1,625
Leif E wrote: I just checked, I think you were referring to Payson, Arizona... I was referring to Payson, Utah... Payson, Utah will definitely be cold.
This is in the AZ and NM forum...
Red · · Tacoma, Toyota · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 1,625
Justin Compton wrote:New Jack City mountainproject.com/v/new-j…
Unless it's windy. This place is miserable in the winter if it's windy.
RyanJames · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 505

Cochise is the BEE'S KNEES!!! Def go there, again!!!!

RJ

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Arizona & New Mexico
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