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Best campsites at City of Rocks?
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I’m going to make some spring campsite reservations at the City. It’s been years and years since I’ve been there and don’t remember which sites are the most desirable. |
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I've stayed at several and they are all good. You can look at the map on line and figure it out pretty well. It kind of depends on what you want to climb on your trip. I have about 6 on my "want to stay there" list but that is my list. |
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Any of the ones over by Practice Rock to Mushroom Rock are excellent and allow you to walk to the vast majority of climbing. But like Spider said, they're all good. |
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They have a pretty amazing photo library of the sites online. Not sure if all of them are in there, but many are. #46 is good. Two tent sites. ~150 meters to outhouse (no smell). At base of nice rock formation. Subject to flash flooding (ask me how I know). Across the road from Bath rock which has a walk-up (with a short via ferrata ladder) to great views. Our friends were in #50 which is further up the road. The tent site is set back from the road in a nice aspen grove. It is a nice site. Have a great time at The City! |
Jay Anderson wrote: Thanks Jay, maybe my Google-Fu is weak, but I can’t find the photo library. Could you share a link? Thank you thank you… |
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https://www.reserveamerica.com/explore/city-of-rocks-national-reserve/ID/315044/campsites |
Greg Gavin wrote: Thanks, I’ll try that on my computer. Maybe it’s a mobile-site feature that I can’t get to work… |
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https://www.nps.gov/ciro/planyourvisit/camping.htm More and better pics, at the bottom of the page, the reservamerica site just has a token pic or two of each campsite. EDIT to add, click view site details on reserveamerica, once you are on the camping pages. That will list details, and have pics at the bottom. Click the map icon, and you get the map, and a pic. Screenshot:  Pay attention to which sites are the rv sites, if you are in a vehicle that qualifies! They enforce that now, and will move you elsewhere. Generally? The ones on the "downhill" side of the road, on your right if heading up the road, are rocky, juniper and mahogany. Hotter in the summer. Tent sites might work only on a tent pad. The other side of the road, left if you're headed up the road, often have aspen groves, and are cooler if it's toasty. Look at the map, pick what you want to be close to. All the roadside crags have camping close enough to walk. One trip, we never left the Twin Sisters! If it's shoulder season, you can afford it, and it's available, the bunkhouse at Castle is my personal favorite! First trip this season, whenever that happens, will be my 20th to City! Best, Helen |
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Unconventional choice: I loved staying on the far side of the park at Twin Sisters. Site 2 especially. While it is a drive to most of the climbing (as compared to the right in the midst of it feel if the main campground), it's is beautiful and secluded over there. I enjoyed the quiet and privacy, and this was worth being a bit farther away. But if walking to climbing and being in the scene is what you prefer, stay in the main campground. |
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Yeah, I've been up at Twin Sisters 3 or 4 times! Once, we had the place to ourselves, first of June, when rain was in the forecast and no one else showed up. Site 2! We chose to climb there, pretty much the whole time. Plenty of stuff, especially since my friend was projecting 12 at the time. He was able to rope gun us two noobs up stuff we'd never get on otherwise. Notably, the 5.4ish fun of Suncup slab! OP, if you truly mean spring? Consider elevation, and snow as a possibility. Early May, nights are below freezing, and early June can be also. Down in Almo, it may just be cold, but up in the high camping (60s) it can be snow. Remember to really tie down the tent, and everything in camp too, wind is huge sometimes, and comes out of nowhere! Have fun! I'm super stoked to get there for trip 20! Best, Helen |
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If you head down early to mid spring consider bringing skis and heading up Cache Peak for some wonderful corn skiing. Phenomenal views from the summit! |
Old lady H wrote: Thanks! I know that I'd seen these photos somewhere before, but I guess it wasn't on ReserveAmerica after all! Maybe see you at the City this spring? Or at the Black Cliffs... |
Greg Gavin wrote: Greg, what’s the best trailhead parking to ski Cache Pk from the south or east? Tom - I like the sites up by King on the Throne. Nice to walk to Breadloaves, Parking lot rock, MG spire and much more. |
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Unm…site 33 kind of blows, both literally and figuratively. Stayed there last June. There is zero shade, and it’s on a saddle. It’s also rock, so not great for putting up a shade structure. It’s nice enough if you’re RVed up, but not a great place for a tent. If this is the one you get, then bring some ballast bags. Oddly, not too many rocks at the City of Rocks, at least within 50 yards of 33. |
Victor K wrote: Thanks Victor - added that to my City notes. |
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Wydaho, I've accessed it from the south and from the east. Grape Creek (east) is accessed just north of Castle Rocks. You drive up FS road 70708 till you're on FS land (about a half mile or so) or until you hit snowline. From the south you start on the Castle Rocks Trail just west of the bunk house, and head due north till you hit Edwards home site, cross Almo Creek, jump the fence/or gate, catch the old ranch road north and follow that till you hit the mountain (caltopo has all the trails). When we skied the south bowl/chutes the rangers gave us a winter access map (the OG beta). Surprisingly it has you hopping fences, jumping the raging Almo Creek, and all that fun stuff. So I guess the rancher is cool with it? Might want to check in with the rangers first. Overall both approaches aren't to bad, but grape creek is easier overall. If you need more beta just PM me. |
Teton Tom wrote: Maybe! It's been a sucked winter for outside, locally. Other years, we've been out in tshirts in January! If you are trying to get more than what will fit on a tent pad in, then yeah, the rocky side of the road can be a problem. The rocks can be nice, when it's cold, or if you or kids wanna scramble. I think it's 38 we stayed at, a cold end of April/early May trip one year. It's a bit of a scoop in the rock, which meant it was cleaner than dirt sites, and warmer. We also all had cell service, once we scrambled up on the rock! I've not stayed there, but around 11 or so (?) one of them has a complete rock "cave"! My favorite in not great camping weather is still the bunkhouse. Making coffee in the morning without a fight to keep a stove lit, is great! Partner and I are climbing at the Commons, weekdays, if ya need a belay. If we've met, and I don't remember, apologies. Best, Helen |
Greg Gavin wrote: Yes, great skiing, as well as hiking, climbing and socializing. Pic taken 1/13/22. Cache Peak 10,286’. Castle Rock and Comp Wall  |
