Beta for Red Rocks - end of December

Wondering if Red Rocks/Vegas/Nevadian locals could provide me some beta on the following:

• Is Red Rocks a good winter destination (i.e. Dec. 27 - Jan. 2)?
• Is camping available close by and will it be warm enough to camp?
• Do cheap alternatives to camping exist close-by?
• Maybe a silly question, but will a week be too much time, just enough or not enough to explore Red Rocks sport/bouldering?
• Is there a good comprehensive guidebook you'd recommend picking up?

Thanks!
M to the B

Mike to the B wrote:Wondering if Red Rocks/Vegas/Nevadian locals could provide me some beta on the following: *Is Red Rocks a good winter destination (i.e. Dec. 27 - Jan. 2)? *Is camping available close by and will it be warm enough to camp? *Do cheap alternatives to camping exist close-by? *Maybe a silly question, but will a week be too much time, just enough or not enough to explore Red Rocks sport/bouldering? *Is there a good comprehensive guidebook you'd recommend picking up? Thanks! M to the B

1. RR is a year round destination to climb. Carefully choosing south facing routes during cold days is key. Like any section of the country, it can still rain or snow in the desert which would cause problems for rock climbing.

2. Yes. But the RR Campground is about the worst of any I have ever used. Climbers are not a priority at RR National Conservation Area, go figure. It is a bit desolate, obstructs all views of the features at RR, windy, exposed, quite removed from the climbing itself....auto required. Warm enough is relative. For me yes, but I have more of an alpinist background.

3. Yes. The economy is such that hotels in Vegas are quite competitive again, looking for gamblers, willing to drop room rates. Close by is a problem. Most hotels in Summerlin do not have casinos. Best closest deal would prob be Sun Coast Hotel as it has a casino. Hard to get a good deal at the RR Casino, but you can try. If you can afford it, the Element is much better and closer place to stay.

4. RR is more popular for its moderate trad climbing than any other reason. Many climbing destinations have good sport climbing. Most folks who pay to travel to RR are doing it for multi pitch lines. That being said, during that time of year, I cannot imagine a better place to sport climb. Sport climbing for one week straight would be enough for any destination, I would sure think. I can think of some better locals to sport climb because you can camp much closer to the routes, like Josh, but Calico Hills has tons of fun sport climbing covering all grades. Good Luck.

5. Jerry Handren's is the best guide book by far.

Good comments above.

Camping sucks, but, that's mostly me. Gets dark super early, you can't see Red Rocks from the campground, so, you have to drive anyhow, and, its very unaesthetic. Also, its winter and cold at night. I've done the cold camping thing and am pretty over it. But, if you're on a budget and like it, then... You might surf up some temperature beta for the area to see if the nightly lows are gonna work for you.

Try the Sahara and/or the Palace Station for rooms. Friday and Saturday nights for New Years weekend will pop the rates sky high. Could road trip to St. George for those nights, and, save a gob on lodging.

I don't really consider Joshua Tree a "sport climbing" destination.

Also, it can (and does) snow, sometimes a bunch, around the time of your trip. They've already had a couple of decent little shots of snow.

Ditto on the Handren guide. There's also a good bouldering guide out too for the area.

Ditto what they said. The Handren guide is the best guidebood to any location that I've seen. Also check out the Bonnie Springs Motel if you want a place close to the climbing. It's actually closer than the campsite to some stuff. I'm not sure how prices would be around New Years . . .

I've taken trips to RR for new years and always lucked out on weather and had a great time. Just pick routes that will be in the sun.

Cory wrote:Also check out the Bonnie Springs Motel if you want a place close to the climbing.

We've been out to Red Rock a number of times and always stay at Bonnie Springs Motel. Very close to RR, adequate lodging and pretty cheap. The nights are long in winter so a motel room is very nice versus camping.
Seems we paid ~$50/night last year during the last week in December (it's off-season for them). I think Christmas Eve and New Years Eve were a bit more expensive but not much. Also, a friend of mine just stayed there during Thanksgiving and said if he told them on the phone that he "saw the Bonnie Springs on Facebook" he got a reduced rate. I haven't looked up Bonnie Springs on Facebook but I guess it's worth it. Ed: I just found Bonnie Springs Ranch on Facebook.
We had no shortage of long gear routes nor short sport routes to climb in one week last December. We wished we could stay longer.
If weather gets dubious, head up to the St. George area for a lot more sport climbing potential.

Jason Halladay wrote: If weather gets dubious, head up to the St. George area for a lot more sport climbing potential.

I live in St. George at the entrance to Snow Canyon State Park . While I am sure our local chamber appreciates the plug, in all honesty if the weather has gone to shit at RR, don't expect much improvement here or in Zion .

Thanks for the helpful posts. Much appreciated!