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Red Rock entry reservation

Original Post
travel143 · · san francisco, ca · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0
FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276
travel143 wrote:

If you're in the gate before eight (that rhymes!), you don't need a reservation. 

travel143 · · san francisco, ca · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

I mean a day pass entry. 

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276
travel143 wrote:

I mean a day pass entry. 

Try to get in before 8 AM, then you don't need a pass.

Kevin Heckeler · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 1,638
FrankPS wrote:

Try to get in before 8 AM, then you don't need a pass.

That's incorrect, you still need a pass (day pass or annual parks pass), you just don't need a reservation.  Gates open at 6AM, reservations start 8AM.

Mum Climber · · MA · Joined May 2019 · Points: 0
FrankPS wrote:

Try to get in before 8 AM, then you don't need a pass.

We were also possibly  considering an April trip (cancelled last year).  Would not be planning early starts or long days so would be after 8.00am getting to loop road.  It looks like all of March would be available right now.  So I am thinking April should also be low risk trying to get a day reservation if we booked a week in advance? Thoughts?

I saw some posts about cars broken into and vandalized in the Calico basin area. Is that still a worry?  

Ashort · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 56

April is spring break time and historically one of the busiest times of the year. Not sure how the pandemic will affect it this year though. 

Honestly though, if you are not doing long days then why even come to red rock? Long days in the canyons are what is special about red rock. There are better sport climbing areas. 

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276
Kevin Heckeler wrote:

That's incorrect, you still need a pass (day pass or annual parks pass), you just don't need a reservation.  Gates open at 6AM, reservations start.

Yeah, you pay the fee at the gate to get your day pass. Point is, you don't need anything in advance to enter before 8.

Edit: Break-ins are a concern regardless of where you are in RR.

Mum Climber · · MA · Joined May 2019 · Points: 0
Ashort wrote:

April is spring break time and historically one of the busiest times of the year. Not sure how the pandemic will affect it this year though. 

Honestly though, if you are not doing long days then why even come to red rock? Long days in the canyons are what is special about red rock. There are better sport climbing areas. 

Ah....I was hoping April would be considered too warm for most climbers and would be quiet, but sounds not the case. And we woild be spring break week.  
Absolutely agree with the long trad route are RR specialty, but special case here. We climb with our 9 and 10 yr old kids so are only looking for easy single pitch (like by easy I mean 5.9 and under) and prefer sport as neither of us has got back to trad since having the kids.  And we are low grade climbers even without the kids in tow.  Over here in the  east  Rumney is perfect to tick those boxes.  We climbed in RR several trips 10+ years ago so at least know our way round there and know there is easy assessable stuff we could all enjoy and (pre Covid) could have combined with some hiking and some kiddie days doing LV attraction.  So was looking like a good vacation plan as of this time last year.....

Most other sport areas don’t offer so much low (very low) grade sport and knowing here to head in RR is a big bonus as well. But any other suggestions? Only one kid can lead belay/lead climb and she can only realistically safely belay the smaller parent.

Dylan Pike · · Knoxville, TN · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 555
Mum Climber wrote:

Ah....I was hoping April would be considered too warm for most climbers and would be quiet, but sounds not the case. 

Unfortunately for the world, many college kids have no concept of "too warm" to climb. I remember my college days sweltering at crags that I had no business being at because I didn't know any better and the stoke was too high.

travel143 · · san francisco, ca · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

So if want to reservation for entry at 9:00am on April 4, what day does the reservation for entry begin on rec.gov?

Kevin Heckeler · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 1,638
Mum Climber wrote:

Ah....I was hoping April would be considered too warm for most climbers and would be quiet, but sounds not the case. And we woild be spring break week.  
Absolutely agree with the long trad route are RR specialty, but special case here. We climb with our 9 and 10 yr old kids so are only looking for easy single pitch (like by easy I mean 5.9 and under) and prefer sport as neither of us has got back to trad since having the kids.  And we are low grade climbers even without the kids in tow.  Over here in the  east  Rumney is perfect to tick those boxes.  We climbed in RR several trips 10+ years ago so at least know our way round there and know there is easy assessable stuff we could all enjoy and (pre Covid) could have combined with some hiking and some kiddie days doing LV attraction.  So was looking like a good vacation plan as of this time last year.....

Most other sport areas don’t offer so much low (very low) grade sport and knowing here to head in RR is a big bonus as well. But any other suggestions? Only one kid can lead belay/lead climb and she can only realistically safely belay the smaller parent.

Not that we need kids or more bodies necessarily at one of the busiest climbing areas in the country, it sounds like Red Rocks is very much in line with all of your various needs.

The main issue I see for you is even after getting the reservation, getting in there after 8AM (most climbers do) and competing for someplace to climb.  On a random weekend day this past weekend, we saw two or more climbers at every wall at the First Pullout by lunchtime.  Fairly busy for a random winter weekend day.  Being that travel was lessened a lot last year, and will be more realistic this April (assuming things stay on track), I suspect it to be fairly busy this April with all the pent up climbing stoke.

I also want to note that very few climbers had masks, this included groups of people casually climbing next to strangers and/or people not of their immediate household.  If you're trying to avoid getting sick (and have not recently had Covid/gained immunity/vaccine), and knowing herd immunity even by best estimates isn't until sometime later in the Summer, you may also want to take this into consideration.  [PSA: being outdoors does reduce the chances of it spreading by air, but it does not eliminate it.  It still comes down to duration and distance.  How long you're around them and how far apart you are.  Being right next to someone climbing/belaying for 20 minutes in light wind has some, albeit, nominal risk.  If courtesy of wearing a mask in that situation was extended, the risk would be brought down to almost zero... but alas that seems to be too much to ask, even for 'liberal minded' climbing types.  The warmer the temps get the less and less we'll see people wearing masks, too.  By April I may be only one in Vegas climbing with a mask on/around their neck.]

Ashort · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 56
Mum Climber wrote:

Ah....I was hoping April would be considered too warm for most climbers and would be quiet, but sounds not the case. And we woild be spring break week.  
Absolutely agree with the long trad route are RR specialty, but special case here. We climb with our 9 and 10 yr old kids so are only looking for easy single pitch (like by easy I mean 5.9 and under) and prefer sport as neither of us has got back to trad since having the kids.  And we are low grade climbers even without the kids in tow.  Over here in the  east  Rumney is perfect to tick those boxes.  We climbed in RR several trips 10+ years ago so at least know our way round there and know there is easy assessable stuff we could all enjoy and (pre Covid) could have combined with some hiking and some kiddie days doing LV attraction.  So was looking like a good vacation plan as of this time last year.....

Most other sport areas don’t offer so much low (very low) grade sport and knowing here to head in RR is a big bonus as well. But any other suggestions? Only one kid can lead belay/lead climb and she can only realistically safely belay the smaller parent.

That makes a lot of sense. If your kids like scrambling at all there are some amazing routes/scrambles to do in the canyons, depending on their ability. 

Mum Climber · · MA · Joined May 2019 · Points: 0
Kevin Heckeler wrote:

Not that we need kids or more bodies necessarily at one of the busiest climbing areas in the country, it sounds like Red Rocks is very much in line with all of your various needs.

The main issue I see for you is even after getting the reservation, getting in there after 8AM (most climbers do) and competing for someplace to climb.  On a random weekend day this past weekend, we saw two or more climbers at every wall at the First Pullout by lunchtime.  Fairly busy for a random winter weekend day.  Being that travel was lessened a lot last year, and will be more realistic this April (assuming things stay on track), I suspect it to be fairly busy this April with all the pent up climbing stoke.

I also want to note that very few climbers had masks, this included groups of people casually climbing next to strangers and/or people not of their immediate household.  If you're trying to avoid getting sick (and have not recently had Covid/gained immunity/vaccine), and knowing herd immunity even by best estimates isn't until sometime later in the Summer, you may also want to take this into consideration.  [PSA: being outdoors does reduce the chances of it spreading by air, but it does not eliminate it.  It still comes down to duration and distance.  How long you're around them and how far apart you are.  Being right next to someone climbing/belaying for 20 minutes in light wind has some, albeit, nominal risk.  If courtesy of wearing a mask in that situation was extended, the risk would be brought down to almost zero... but alas that seems to be too much to ask, even for 'liberal minded' climbing types.  The warmer the temps get the less and less we'll see people wearing masks, too.  By April I may be only one in Vegas climbing with a mask on/around their neck.]

I think it will probably not be this year, more me just being hopeful and thinking “what if”. We are not ready to get on a plane yet.  
But the information that April is busy is very good to know (as the spring break would be out most likely time any year). We don’t much like crowds even pre pandemic and I am sensitive to the fact that turning up with two kids at a crag does get us some scowls.  I really did think April would be well post season, so good to know.

Thanks to those that replied, sorry to hijak the thread.

Mick · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2017 · Points: 0

Mum Climber, Red Rock belongs to your children just as much as it does to the scowlers. I hope your family is able to make the visit someday and if I see your kids I promise not to scowl. 

Ryan McDermott · · Pittsburgh, PA · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 110

Most colleges and universities have eliminated spring break this year to prevent students from traveling and returning to campus. 

Crimpalot · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 0

To the OP, RR does have some great sport in your range. That said expect it to be PACKED and parking at your arrival time could be impossible on weekends. I could certainly recommend much better locations for your needs.

Ashort · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 56
Mick wrote:

Mum Climber, Red Rock belongs to your children just as much as it does to the scowlers. I hope your family is able to make the visit someday and if I see your kids I promise not to scowl. 

100% this, I never realized red rock was adults only. Don't ever feel bad for bringing the kids, not matter what kevin says. There are groups of boulderes that go out to kraft with kids all the time, it's a blast. In fact I wish there were MORE kids out at red rock, they are way cooler than some of the adults!

phylp phylp · · Upland · Joined May 2015 · Points: 1,137
Mum Climber wrote:

Ah....I was hoping April would be considered too warm for most climbers and would be quiet, but sounds not the case. And we woild be spring break week.  

As Ashort said, April spring break is one of the busiest weeks in RR.

Other locations you might consider are basing in St George and looking at the easy basalt and limestone sport in the area.

If you based in Bishop, CA, there are plenty of easy sport routes at Alabama hills in Lone Pine (an hour away) and the ORG in Bishop, and even some at places like Fashion Slabs in Pine Creek at a bit higher elevation that can be fine in April depending on the snow levels.

Both of those locations are very beautiful and have plenty to do besides climbing.  St George is 1.5 hrs from Zion National Park which is spectacular.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Nevada
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