Eye Candy from the City of Rocks (A Photo Essay)
No one arrives at the City of Rocks by accident. Perched near the Utah/Idaho border, it’s a remote, beautiful place an hour off I-84 that’s easy to miss. For rock climbers, however, the City of Rocks is a mecca.
For my first visit in summer 2008, I arrived at midnight via a rocky, wandering back road. Rutted dirt roads jousted with the Subaru’s undercarriage, but the car survived and a week of full-moon evenings by the fire and fantastic climbing ensued. I’ve aimed to return ever since.
This time, I skipped the axle-smashing entrance in favor of the main entrance. (Slightly further and worth it!) Fresh off fun in Hells Canyon, my buddy Sean and I rolled up and met my friends Martin and Donna.
Unlike Yosemite and its towering walls, The City creeps up on you. An unassuming, washboard dirt road scatters thoughts (and possessions) as the scene unfolds. First small boulders…then bigger… Then you’re immersed in a landscape where a giant alien dropped his granite marble collection and they shattered into shards of climbable stone.
Scattered among these rocks are hiking trails for landlubbers and climbing routes for the vertically inclined. A warren of twisting approaches and dozens of major features with names like Flaming Rock, Electric Avenue, Bumblie Rock or Steinfell’s Dome await you. Even for non-climbers, the City of Rocks is a worthwhile destination for hiking and trail running, not to mention the stars at night are incredible.
More pictures, less talking! What kinda photo essay is this? Last thing I’ll mention: check out Mountain Project for all the details you’ll need to plan your stay. Oh, and while the park is remote, it’s close enough to Boise and Salt Lake City that I recommend skipping spring or fall weekends when the park is buuuuusy.
Here are shots from our week of excellent fun in the City of Rocks and another day at nearby Castle Rocks. Enjoy!
The awesome Donna and Martin.
With photos like these, I’m pretty sure you could find a way to make a killing off granite beds. And your strategically placed pizza mentions continue to make rock climbing sound 0.009% appealing.
Go Jules Go recently posted…SURPRISE! What I REALLY Got from My Masters Degree
Granite Beds: Making People Tougher Since 2 Billion BC. (TM) While pizza and climbing (or pizza and mtb…or pizza and sitting around) may sound connected, it is possible to hang out with me and not climb while STILL eating pizza. Such as later today, when I’m having people over to do a #Garagefit workout and then eat pizza. Heh heh.
How cool…loved all the pics, just beautiful.
Thanks Ray! Lots of beautiful places to see, but there’s something special about The City.