Mountain Project Logo

Indian Creek "security situation?"

Original Post
Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450

Hi,

Headed to Indian Creek next week. I've seen some mention on here of some breakins and thefts. Obviously anything can happen anywhere, but how much of an issue is this? Do we need to carry all our gear with us to the crag every day? Tennessee Wall levels of parking lot paranoia, or what?

Bonus unrelated question: my sense was that there wasn't much point in renting an suv over a regular car out there for cragging at the Creek, and that the one rough road we might want to get on (access to Sister Superior) was so rough that a standard suv wouldn't get us any further than a Chevy Impala. Is that right?

Frank Stein · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 205

For Davis Canyon Road you need high clearance (If you are planning on doing the Six Shooters (Lightning Bolt Cracks is a really nice route)). Everything else is fine in a passenger car if you drive carefully. I have never experienced or heard of car breakins or camp theft at the Creek. That does not mean that it does not happen.

Dow Williams · · St. George, Utah; Canmore, AB · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 240

That is not correct on Sister Superior....a more accurate statement is that you would walk at about the same speed as you would take the SUV, so I don't see the benefits for you in spending the extra money unless you have a fitness issue with the extra (flat elevation) distance.

The "Creek" happens to be the "in thing" right now with city dwellers....the high end camping, clothing and climbing gear that come from places like Salt Lake and Boulder does not go unnoticed by the unwashed. Thus the recent increase is theft. But no more than Yosemite or anywhere else where it is relatively crowded from a climbing perspective. You will not have any issue for most any tower trail head.

Charlie S · · NV · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 2,391

Haven't add any issue with break-ins. But I keep all my valuables with me anyway.

What crags at IC do you want to get to? A car will do for most of the popular ones. Meat Walls/Cliffs of Insanity/Optimator/Bridger Jacks/Six Shooters areas can get sporty.

Sister Superior is about 45 minutes to an hour north of Moab, whereas IC is an hour south. Can't speak for that road, but know that Moab "4WD" is a totally different world than the rest of the US 4WD definitions.

Highlander · · Ouray, CO · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 256

There have been at least 2 break-ins at the Creek Pasture campground this Winter that I am aware of. I would not leave anything valuable unattended at camp. Have not heard of any theft at trail heads, but I would use caution leaving anything unsecured or easy to get to.

Wally · · Denver · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0

I disagree with Schmuck's response about North Six Shooter. Take the alternate approach described by Bloom, which is the first dirt road west of Davis Canyon that heads into the backside of North Six Shooter. Better road (passenger car is fine), trail is in the morning shade, good trail.

Losers have been stealing sht for years at Indian Creek. Fifteen years ago Hamburger Rock got hit one night. Five or six campsites had stuff stolen early in the morning while people were sleeping. Lock up your stuff and be vigilant.

Wally

ZANE · · Cleveland, OH · Joined May 2011 · Points: 20

Sister superior as of last year (outdated I know) was extremely gnarly. There is a pulloff a few hundred yards off the paved road, but from there you need a rig to get back to the formation. I think My ranger lifted 3" on 33" tires would make it quite a ways if I remember correctly, but probably just as fast as walking, and still only halfway or something. I'd just count on a long approach. Stay low, walk the creek beds until you're almost directly under it.

Wally · · Denver · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0

For Sister Superior, last year my AWD van got in maybe a 1/4 of a mile and the 4WD vehicles got in maybe a 1/2 mile. It is not really worth having the 4WD (or AWD) for Sister Superior. With any type of road legal vehicle, the hiking approach to Sister Superior is gonna be a mile or two of walking. Easy and relatively flat walking up the road - so no big deal.

Wally

d powledge · · Montana · Joined May 2009 · Points: 21

re: sister superior, as of this past October, I parked my truck at the entrance of the wash and hiked it. Could have muscled through in 4WD for a bit - but the boulders from the area being washed out made it not worth it to me. I'd save the hassle. It's a mellow walk to the base of the talus.

Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450
Dow Williams wrote:That is not correct on Sister Superior....a more accurate statement is that you would walk at about the same speed as you would take the SUV, so I don't see the benefits for you in spending the extra money unless you have a fitness issue with the extra (flat elevation) distance. The "Creek" happens to be the "in thing" right now with city dwellers....the high end camping, clothing and climbing gear that come from places like Salt Lake and Boulder does not go unnoticed by the unwashed. Thus the recent increase is theft. But no more than Yosemite or anywhere else where it is relatively crowded from a climbing perspective. You will not have any issue for most any tower trail head.
Thanks Dow, that actually sort of dovetails with my other thought which was that even if I had a vehicle that was up to the terrain, I am no kind of off road driver.

I've definitely seen on here a growing tension around increasing usage at Indian Creek...it had always been mellow on prior visits, sorry hear that that has changed.
Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450

Thanks to everyone for the beta, very helpful (especially since an suv is an extra 400 bucks!). I was looking at South Six Shooter too for a rest/easier day...seems like a similar situation with that road also?

Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450
Charlie S wrote:Haven't add any issue with break-ins. But I keep all my valuables with me anyway. What crags at IC do you want to get to? A car will do for most of the popular ones. Meat Walls/Cliffs of Insanity/Optimator/Bridger Jacks/Six Shooters areas can get sporty. Sister Superior is about 45 minutes to an hour north of Moab, whereas IC is an hour south. Can't speak for that road, but know that Moab "4WD" is a totally different world than the rest of the US 4WD definitions.
Mostly I think we're going to be trying to stay in the sun, seems like it won't be that warm. I'd like to get back to optimator but if I remember that's more shady. Otherwise we're probably going to mostly be nearer the road except maybe for S Six Shooter. I love walking around out there anyway, so should be OK.

What do you mean by "completely different world" of moab 4wd? All those crazy pictures I've seen in the restaurants of jeeps wedged in potholes and stuff?
Dow Williams · · St. George, Utah; Canmore, AB · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 240

you bet man, enjoy your trip....

yeah, 4x4 comps and the like are a way bigger tourist draw in Moab than climbers as you can imagine...so what they consider 4x4 and what most places consider 4x4 are many times two different things....I was involved with a sponsorship with Toyota when they first introduced their FJ to off road comps in Moab and N. America in general....now they are quitting because they expected more soccer moms to buy them I guess...I have one from '06, six speed standard, tore the hell out of it in Canada (Ghost Wilderness) and down here, well over 100K miles....still has the original battery (some Panasonic monster) for gods sake......it is a beast....I just did the Sister Superior bit like 10 days ago....prob quicker for me to walk, but more fun to drive it....biggest challenge climbing wise (near Moab) I have ever ran into with it was going to Moses right after a flood and Top of the World (Cooler Than Jesus), which is an awesome climb by the way that few venture out to...

Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450
Dow Williams wrote:you bet man, enjoy your trip.... yeah, 4x4 comps and the like are a way bigger tourist draw in Moab than climbers as you can imagine...so what they consider 4x4 and what most places consider 4x4 are many times two different things....I was involved with a sponsorship with Toyota when they first introduced their FJ to off road comps in Moab and N. America in general....now they are quitting because they expected more soccer moms to buy them I guess...I have one from '06, six speed standard, tore the hell out of it in Canada (Ghost Wilderness) and down here, well over 100K miles....still has the original battery (some Panasonic monster) for gods sake......it is a beast....I just did the Sister Superior bit like 10 days ago....prob quicker for me to walk, but more fun to drive it....biggest challenge climbing wise (near Moab) I have ever ran into with it was going to Moses right after a flood and Top of the World (Cooler Than Jesus), which is an awesome climb by the way that few venture out to...
That looks pretty wild! Dunno how well the Gunks will have prepared me for that "squeeze/flare" start!
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern Utah Deserts
Post a Reply to "Indian Creek "security situation?" "

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.