Kid Friendly Crag List

Yes was not sure about boulderado... I took my 11 year old niece there to top rope and she loved it, but we were the only ones there..

For those on the Front Range, East Colfax at Clear Creek is quite kid friendly with no more than a 5 minute approach.

percious wrote:Boulderado is WAY dangerous for kids due to its proximity to the road. Here are some places we have taken young children. Boulder Canyon ============== 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 ========== Wind Tower South Buttress Redgarden Flatirons ======= The Amphitheater (ideal) Devil's Head =========== Wipeyeur Buttress (ideal) Training ground (ideal) Golden ======= 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 ========= Jurassic park (somewhat long approach) Morrison ======== Near the bouldering there are some longer routes left of the trail up. North Table

Stuff around boston (within a couple of hours) that is easy with kids.

Pawtuckaway for bouldering (beware of bug season)
College rock for top rope
Lincoln Woods in RI, bouldering
Crow Hill for trad

The PLAY PEN in Upper Clear Creek canyon is great crag for kids. The old railroad grade is now an inactive jeep road that is 40-50 feet from the base of the crag. There is only 5 pitches of moderate 5.10 but makes for a fun afternoon of fingery climbing. Kids can ride bikes, play with Tonka trucks, frolic by the edge of the creek(when levels are low...). During spring runoff, take extra care near the creek(solid class 4 rapids).
This new spot is cleaning up nicely but needs more love. Lots of old bullet shells(brass) are on the ground and some old broken glass. Using the kids to help clean up might be a fun activity to teach them not to litter... A large magnet to pick up all the small .22 shells would be a really cool way to collect them. I must have picked up 500+ larger brass casings already... I know it sounds iffy but it's a cool spot. BUT, I think the "jeep" road is soon to become a paved 2-Lane bike path that will be crazy busy with every road biker on the front range. That will take away from the secluded feel of this special spot...

CASTLE ROCK in Boulder Canyon is a great place for kids too.

Devils Tower has a paved approach and full bathrooms/gift shop in the parking lot. Not to mention cell signal on the tower....which may not seem like much to some of you, but there aren't many in WY that do. Doesn't matter to me, but helps a mom/dad with kids feel a bit more secure.

GUNKs: Any mre specific suggestions for the Gunks? I'm looking for spot where my boys (3 and 5) could be somewhat safe at the base (i.e. flatish ground without limb-breaking drop-offs) while we do some single pitch climbs (5.6 to 5.11 range).

The City of Rocks is a blast for kids.

Maple Canyon is kid friendly.

Just keep them from hanging out under climbers because (although it is fun climbing) that place likes to shed holds.

Yosemite has plenty of kid friendly crags.

Rifle seemed kid friendly to me.

Here's one for the west coast: Stoney Point.
Great top roping in a very approachable city crag. Close access to restaurants, friendly climbing community, great route info, well used without loose rock.

JoeGaribay wrote:Here's one for the west coast: Stoney Point. Great top roping in a very approachable city crag. Close access to restaurants, friendly climbing community, great route info, well used without loose rock.

Oh yea. There's that. Damn valley punks. But it's honestly not much of a concern on the TR walls. Then again, it's been awhile since I've been there.

JoeGaribay wrote:Then again, it's been awhile since I've been there.

I brought my kids to The Gunks before.

My son was 3, my daughter was 8 weeks. I had no problem pushing a stroller aroud the carriage road. We did the 5-mile loop around The Trapps. It was really nice.

As far as climbing, I did a quick run up Frog's Head while my wife, and a friend, looked after the kids (our friend also had her 3 year old).

Having an adult there to soley look after the kids is absolutely essential. Very easy for a kid to trip. And there's also the dangers from above. We kept the kids pretty far back from the cliff and any other climbing parties.

So, I would say it's fine if you have a dedicated babysitter and aren't stupid about it. The carriage road definitely makes The Gunks kid friendly, but it's still a mountain.

Pnelson wrote: City of Rocks is definitely kid friendly.

I'd second Smoke Bluffs in Squamish. I had my 4 year old nephew up there climbing earlier this summer and my little niece at just over a year old. They both had fun and wrangling the kids to keep them out of trouble was easy.

Depending on the kids age and responsibility and if they aren't climbing I'd consider Cheakamus Canyon north of Squamish as kid friendly. All of the climbs are fairly stout sport climbs but there aren't any cliffs to fall off of (but some of the boulders at the base of the climb are big enough for fall hazard) and the trail from the parking area doesn't gain or lose much elevation and is very short (~15 minutes tops to the Circus/Big Show walls) but it's not possible with a stroller. The wall is clean enough that I wouldn't worry about rockfall and nobody is going to drop a cam there. There's a wall at the parking lot and a few that are just out of the lot too.

I'd also consider Fun Rocks in Mazama to be kid friendly.

I love the romance of the question. But I think people with kids have different styles of parenting, and I only encourage those with an active, caring style to bring their children to the Gunks. The site is lovely but the risks are seductive.

Rich (rgold) made a good observations: There are hazards of which the children are unaware. Most of the "near misses" I've seen involve kids wandering, fighting, having tantrums, and falling. It only takes one header or run-in with a bike to send a kid into the ER. Yes, everyone tries to avoid hurting your kid. Thank God most of us succeed.

R's second point is equally valid, whether you think the parent should be belaying or parenting: If parent #2 is belaying and parent #1 is climbing, then nobody is really watching over the child. Good belaying means being fully mindful of your leader and the rope. Good parenting means being mindful of your child. One or both will suffer when you try to do both with an active child.

There's a difference between "having a child in tow" and actually caring for a child. When Michael described his wife's and friend's roles, there was adequate attention and effort to give the child a fun experience while the parent was climbing. I have seen people with kids go for long walks or shoulder rides or bike seat rides in the Gunks. You can explore a bit of woods. There are ample ways to have fun, if you're not trying to be both belayer/climber and parent at the same time.

Don't listen to the naysayers about kids at the Gunks on the weekend--it's safe and fun. Here's my skinny on the situation to maximize fun for all:

I bring my two boys (2.5 and 5) to the Gunks on the weekends a lot. A party of 3 or more patient friends who understand kids, careful/intentional planning like-- staying around the Uberfall, plus a flexible mind (i.e. Don't think you're going to get to climb all day, because you'll be sorely disappointed). And, by all means, have other activities planned! The Gunks are great in the sense that great bike rides, runs, swimming, and general playing can be had safely while climbing.