Climbing Near Salt Lake City, Utah

The mouth of City Creek Canyon is just north of downtown Salt Lake City and the canyon runs kind of east/west behind the avenues. The top of this canyon shares a ridge line with the upper reaches of Emigration Canyon. This is a popular canyon among cyclists and dog owners. The road is CLOSED TO AUTOMOBILES EVERY ODD CALENDAR DAY from Memorial Day through the end of September and everyday through the winter. On even calendar days through the summer you can drive up the canyon but there is a $3/car fee. Bring exact cash. On these days, just pull up to the gate and someone will greet you and take payment. Dogs are allowed in this canyon at the crags lower in the canyon and up to just below water treatment plant but must be on leash at all times. The Shoreline crag might be hard to get a dog to. Above the plant, the canyon is watershed so dogs are not allowed. The canyon has conglomerate (cobblestone) cliffs high up on the sides of the canyon toward the bottom and limestone crags and fins at the top. The cobblestone is of varying quality with some bands of super hard stuff and some bands that barely seem to stay together. Helmets are recommended. The limestone is unique and featured in places and blank and awkward in others. The routes get mixed reviews with a variety of old and new school offerings though little information has been published. By Car: Go to the top of B street in the avenues (roughly 300 east) or to the West end of 11th Avenue. At this point, go north onto Bonneville Blvd which is a one way street that takes you into the canyon. Turn right into the canyon after it crosses the creek. By Bike: same as by car, or you can start in downtown and ride up through Memory Grove along the creek until it intersects with Bonneville Blvd. This section of road is always closed to automobiles. To get there, take North Temple east across State Street then take your first left (at a red brick apartment building). This road turns into Memory Grove. There is some un-metered public parking here along the road. This will increase your ride by about a mile over parking at the gate of the canyon on Bonneville Blvd. Remember to bring a lock and chain to secure your bike to a tree or something as it is not feasible to take your bike to any of the climbs. Tourists can rent bicycles in Salt Lake City at the intermodal hub in salt lake city at 250 south 600 west. A bike ride is a nice addition to a good day of climbing.

CAUTION: As of July 2018 there are multiple wasp nests on the ground approach to Hadrian's wall, as well as on the wall itself. Use great caution on the left routes on the wall and on the approach.This is a small cobblestone wall with 4 moderate routes on it. With a tame 15 minute approach, it's the easiest wall to get to in the canyon. The wall sees full sun for most of the day and is a nice place to be on cool, sunny days.The routes here are fun, if a bit dirty still. The rock isn't the best and the routes are brand new, so climb and belay carefully. The rock is less than vertical but still pretty steep; the big cobbles and pockets give the routes low grades. The views of downtown and the capitol building are great.From the top of the routes you can see a house a couple hundred yards above you. Please be courteous and don't make too much noise. Park in the lot right before the gate and walk a several hundred feet up the canyon on the paved road to picnic site #1. From the picnic site, you'll be able to see Hadrian's Wall above the trees. Take the obvious trail (that has a little concrete brick retaining wall) that leads left from the main canyon road right by the picnic site. This will take you onto the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Turn right and hike the BST for 5-10 minutes until you're right below Hadrian's Wall and Hadrian's Boulder (if you've passed the overhead power line a second time, you've gone to far. Shortly after staring the trail you will pass under the first power line. The climb is just before the second crossing of the power line.). Follow a very faint trail straight up the bare slope until you're even with Hadrian's Boulder on your left. Cut right on a faint trail over toward Hadrian's Wall. Scramble up a couple cobblestone steps to the flat landing below the wall. See also the three approach beta photos.

Overhanging sport climbing on conglomerate high up on the left side about 3/4 mile up the canyon. The crag is a combination of two big crack/cave features. Rock is generally solid with a combination of glue in and mechanical bolts. Routes are primarily 5.11+ and harder. Hike up the main road from the parking lot at the main entrance of the canyon until you start to reach the picnic area. Across from the first or second site (on the right) there is a trail on the left that leads up the hill. Follow this path until it meets up with a heavily traveled trail. Continue on this trail heading up canyon until you reach a junction at a powerline pole. Take this switchbacking trail up to the fifth switchback and look for a faint trail that heads west. Scramble up this trail until you reach the base of the cliff.