Kid Friendly Crag List

I thought it would be useful to assemble beta on climbing areas that are amenable to having a child in tow, assuming that one adult is always available to mind said child. Important criteria are

1) Approach: safe and easily done while carrying a small child in a pack or letting them walk.
2) Base area: flat areas that are spacious enough to sit with child.

EDIT: Geographically, my personal interest is anything in the Northeast, plus any area that is destination worthy, i.e. can sustain a full week of climbing interest.

List (so far)

Northeast

• The Gunks: Easy approach, but steep drop off from carriage road requires attention. Be mindful of rockfall and other parties.
• Red Rock, Cape Ann

Destinations

• Squamish: Smoke Bluffs, Murrin Park.
• Joshua Tree
• City of Rocks, ID

Craigslist is most certainly not kid-friendly.

Are you talking about nation wide because that is going to be a pretty big list?

Murren Lake in Squamish is kid friendly. You can belay while sitting on the tailgate of your truck and there's swimming!

It is important to consider hazards such as rockfall.

We can't protect our children from everything, but I certainly feel more comfortable taking mine to Hammond Pond than I would taking them to the Gunks.

Agreed, rockfall is a consideration for me too.

I noticed your from Cambridge... Red Rocks in Gloucester is an amazingly kid friendly crag. Easy climbing, secure, soft granite, as well as an open, flat base area makes it a great crag to take the kids too, and for that reason it's often packed with kids on the weekends. The walk in is only about 10 minuets, and it boasts a great view of Plumb Island Sound and the Atlantic.

Any thoughts on City of Rocks?
I've never been, but looks like pretty flat base areas from photos.

coldatom wrote:Any thoughts on City of Rocks? I've never been, but looks like pretty flat base areas from photos.

City of Rocks is definitely kid friendly.

I would not bring a child to the base of the Trapps in the Gunks on a weekend. I've personally seen two near-misses, one a rock, one a blue camalot, that came very close to hitting a small child. There are just too many people up above---sometimes you can't seem them from below---who might be dropping things.

It's bad enough for grownups, but at least they know the score and have made a conscious choice to expose themselves to whatever risks are inherent in the environment.

If there are two adults and one of them is "minding" the child, that adult had better not also be belaying the person who is climbing, so that means that three adults are the minimum for bringing a small child safely to the base of the crag when at least some of the adults want to climb.

Quebec: Montagne d'Argent. Mostly flat bases at the crags, good paths to them, lots of stuff to climb. About 1.5 hours north of Montreal.

Destination:

Joshua Tree National Park has a good number of crags where the approach is dead flat: you get out of your car, gear up from the trunk. Cross the parking lot, wind your way around a couple picnic tables, and climb.

rgold wrote:I would not bring a child to the base of the Trapps ...

Agreed. The immediate base of a climb/rap in the Trapps is generally not safe in my book. I think one can always find a safe enough spot within shouting distance, even if that just means the carriage road.

And I am always talking about there being a 3rd adult present. That's just common sense (I hope).

The South Seas behind Mt Rushmore in SD. Park and walk along a flat fire road. Easy climbs not much chance of rockfall.

Fern Buttress and Super Mario/Beauty Mountain at the New River Gorge.

Hartman Rocks in Gunny.

What about the Front Range?

What about in the Front Range?

Maybe North table in Golden Co. Lots of climbs, lots of top rope. Rockfall is a factor and I think the approach is fine. But some think it siucks...

boulderado?? in boulder caynon Boulder CO....

^^oh yes how can we forget...

Boulderado is WAY dangerous for kids due to its proximity to the road.

Here are some places we have taken young children.

Boulder Canyon
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The Riviera (ideal)
Animal World (make sure the kids stay closer to the cliff, there is a cliff fall danger if they wander too far away)
Happy Hour (watch out for gumbies tho)

Eldorado
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Wind Tower
South Buttress Redgarden

Flatirons
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The Amphitheater (ideal) (make sure the kids know about, and stay away from poison ivy)

Devil's Head
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Wipeyeur Buttress (ideal)
Training ground (ideal)

Golden
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Cat Slab - One tricky spot to watch the kids at the beginning of the approach.
The Dog House
High Wire (not recommended)
Highlander (approach is tough for kids < 10 y.o.)

Estes Park
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Jurassic park (somewhat long approach)

Morrison
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Near the bouldering there are some longer routes left of the trail up.

North Table