Red Rock: a few thousand routes, generally warm weather, every kind climbing from short sport routes to big 20-pitch outings, nearby Las Vegas for off-rock activities. Who could ask for more?
***** LATE EXIT PASSES ***** It is easy to be late returning to your car, and the tickets are EXPENSIVE. The BLM has a "Late Exit" system in place to allow climbers extra time before they must exit the scenic loop road. Full details are on the BLM recording at 702-515-5050. Here's what to do:
Call the LATE EXIT RECORDING at 702-515-5050.
You can call up to seven days prior to your climb. If you can get a cell phone signal (but don't count on this), you can call as late as 4:00 p.m. on the day of your climb. Be prepared to recite the following information to the answering machine:
1. Your name and address 2. Vehicle license number and description 3. Type of pass (late exit or overnight) 4. Intended date of climb 5. Route name 6. Parking area 7. Your phone number
ALL information must be left or NO PERMIT WILL BE ISSUED!
All climbers should take advantage of this excellent resource. Any number of unexpected things can cause you to run late on a climb. Don't let your trip get ruined with an expensive, but avoidable, parking ticket
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Red Rock:
A nice route to combine with Lotta Balls, we thought it was just as good. Begin about 40ft right of Lotta Balls, at a sharp flake.P1-150ft. Climb the flake and then pass 2 bolts, heading right at the 2nd bolt into a thin crack. Climb the crack and face to belay at a single bolt (and gear in crack, or cool natural thread).P2-140ft. Straight up the crack and face to a 2 bolt anchor. Easier pitch, but a bit runout in places.P3-140ft. Avoid getting s...[more]Browse More Classics in NV
By Mike Morley Administrator From: Oakland, CA Mar 23, 2006
Bryson, try http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/faq.htm. Camping was $10/night last time I stayed there. On the positive side, there's potable water, clean pit toilets, and it's pretty close to the entrance loop. However, the sites are not wind or sun-protected and the campground as a whole is not very scenic. As they say, a picture says a thousand words.
As an alternative to camping, you might want to try hotels.com as well - it's not uncommon to find rooms for $35 per night on Sun-Thurs. If you can get a good deal, I highly recommend the Artisan Hotel at the corner of I-15 and Sahara. Great rooms, killer lounge bar, funky ambiance, and non-smoking.
By Ron Olsen Administrator From: Boulder, CO Mar 23, 2006
Thanks for the info, Mike.
I'd like to see the main Red Rock page updated to include this info, and additional info on hotels, places to eat and buy beer, climbing shops, climbing gear, entrance fees, gate hours, etc.
An overview of the climbing areas and some climbing photos would be nice too.
Also, it seems that the area is called "Red Rock", not "Red Rocks", by the locals these days. Maybe the area should be renamed.
By Mike Morley Administrator From: Oakland, CA Mar 23, 2006
Ron --
I've always called it "Red Rocks" (as per the red Urioste and subsequent Swain guidebooks), although the official name is the "Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA)". The locals call it "Red Rock" and are quick to point out that you must be a non-local if you call it "Red Rocks" (think "Buena Vista, CO"). "Red Rock Canyon" seems like the best option for this site. What do you think, Larry?
Additional info: Desert Rock Sports on W. Charleston is the place to go for gear, guidebooks, etc. The old owner, Mike Ward, sold the shop about a year ago, and they moved a few doors down. The Powerhouse Gym is located in the same strip mall and provides showers for a small fee. Trader Joe's is located at 2101 S. Decatur and has great food, wine, coffee, cheese (much of it organically-grown) at excellent prices.
The Powerhouse Gym on W. Charleston Blvd. and Cimarron was renamed to Red Rock Climbing Center after the change of ownership. 8201 W. Charleston Blvd. ste. 150 Phone: 702-254-5604
Desert Rock Sports for your gear needs(in same plaza as R.R.C.C.) Also... can offer a lot of helpful information to visiting or local climbers.
Whole Foods 10 minutes from Red Rock 8855 W Charleston Blvd Phone: 702-254-8655
The Sunflower Market is also great if you like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods type grocery items. They have a huge selection of fruits and vegetables, wide aisles, and less crowded. Their prices seem more reasonable too. 4020 S. Rainbow Blvd Located on the NE corner of Flamingo and S. Rainbow Blvd. Store Hours: Monday-Sunday 7 AM - 10 PM Phone: 702-876-4888
In same plaza as Sunflower Market: Einstein Bagels, Starbucks, and a French Bakery: Bonjour Euro Bakers (Great pastries, coffee, and sandwiches!) Owners Stephane & Gerard Phone: 702-889-4628
BJ's Restaurant, and Brewery as mentioned above, is popular for after climbing feasts. On W. Charleston Blvd./215 freeway
Hi Folks I'm close to completing a new guidebook to Red Rocks, (yes another one). I've got room for a few more shots and have too many of my friends already, so I'd like to get a few new faces in there. I'm looking for shots of leaders on multi pitch canyon routes in particular, but any nice shot will do. 4 mp digital is probably the minimum, I can use slides as well. Any new route information is welcome. If its in the canyons and bolts are involved send it anonymously, so that neither I nor the BLM know who you are!. My E-Mail is jerryhandren@earthlink.net.
If you are a hardcore mountain biker, you MUST take a side trip to Bootleg Canyon in beautiful Boulder City. Only a 30 -40 minute freeway drive from Vegas. Check it out!
By Mike Morley Administrator From: Oakland, CA Nov 14, 2006
Weather information for Calico Basin (weather station KNVLASVE41) may be found at http://www.wunderground.com/US/NV/Las_Vegas.html. Scroll down the page to "Calico Basin, Red Rock Conservation Area, Las Vegas, NV"
FWIW the Las Vegas airport makes for a lousy bivy spot...
By Jordan Ramey From: South Pasadena, CA Oct 18, 2007
Originally posted by "chris ansari"
----------------- The kind folks over at the BLM have published a bunch of data about the climbing routes within the conservation area. It has some pretty incredible photos of walls with route locations.
It is not a substitute for a guidebook, but might be a nice complement for finding routes. It's worth looking over.
To you Red Rock locals, besides the campground and the "Artisan Hotel," do you all know of hotels/hostels reasonably priced and on the west side of town? I seem to be having a hard time finding anything besides the Suncoast and Red Rock Casino. This is a great help to those of us who don't want to camp in the wind. Thanks!
Red Rock Loop road closing at 4? I guess I'll find out in a few hours, but is it true that the blm is now closing the loop an hour early? Hell, why not just close it completely? Anything is possible with these people. Hope it's a rumor but knowing the blm, likely it's true.
based on the conversation I just had on the phone with the park they are open until 7pm that is the time that the law enforcer comes to hunt ya down. I think it is always a good idea to get the permit just in case. Shit happens when your out there. it costs nothing to obtain a late exit permit.
I recently picked up a copy of the new Jerry Handren guide and it is excellent! My biggest complaint is the text size - it is incredibly small. I would estimate 8pt font. I think Red Rocks is getting too large for a single guidebook. The climbing naturally splits between trad and sport, and it makes sense now to have a separate guide for each. I'm sure all the sport climbers have little interest in the extra pages devoted to all the new 5.8 trad routes, and similarly us trad climbers have little interest in hard sport routes.
The only thing I see lacking in this guide is it does not address runout potential very well in many routes I am familiar with. Very rarely does one see an "R" attached to any route. Often any runouts are mentioned in the text, but I would like to see it in the rating as well. Safe sport routes are identified as such, but I am referring to trad routes.
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