Red Rock Climbing

This digital Red Rock climbing guidebook gives you GPS navigation, verified topos, and beta for hundreds of climbs. Explore classics and hidden gems with offline access to maps, directions, and beta videos. Whether it's your first visit or fiftieth, KAYA makes your Red Rock days smoother, safer, and more dialed.

Red Rock Canyon, one of North America's premiere climbing destinations, has a rich history alongside other well-known crags such as Hueco Tanks, Yosemite, Bishop and Joshua Tree, dating back to the mid-1970s. It has been extensively explored and documented through numerous legends over the decades and Tom Moulin's comprehensive paper guidebook for Red Rock and the other Southern Nevada crags is one of the best bouldering guidebooks in the world. There have been many iterations over the 2000s with the latest being available here: https://www.snellpress.com/snb3.

Located just 10 ... Show more

This digital Red Rock climbing guidebook gives you GPS navigation, verified topos, and beta for hundreds of climbs. Explore classics and hidden gems with offline access to maps, directions, and beta videos. Whether it's your first visit or fiftieth, KAYA makes your Red Rock days smoother, safer, and more dialed. Red Rock Canyon, one of North America's premiere climbing destinations, has a rich history alongside other well-known crags such as Hueco Tanks, Yosemite, Bishop and Joshua Tree, dating back to the mid-1970s. It has been extensively explored and documented through numerous legends over the decades and Tom Moulin's comprehensive paper guidebook for Red Rock and the other Southern Nevada crags is one of the best bouldering guidebooks in the world. There have been many iterations over the 2000s with the latest being available here: https://www.snellpress.com/snb3. Located just 10 minutes away from Summerlin and 25 minutes away from the Las Vegas Strip and Harry Reid International Airport, it is easily accessible to Las Vegas locals, domestic and international travelers alike. With over 2500 currently eastablished boulder problems across all grades (yes even V17), and such ease of access, it is one of the most traveled rock climbing destinations in the world. Containing world-class classics at every grade and of every climbing-style imaginable, spread across over 15 different canyons with varying levels of popularity, Red Rock provides something for everyone. You can choose to climb classics with a long legacy and short approaches in areas like Kraft and Red Spring, or go off-the-beaten path in remote canyons like Mud Springs and Mustang. Whichever you choose, remember to follow leave-no-trace and general respectful best practices: - Stay on designated trails. Red Rock Canyon is a National Conservation Area managed by the Bureau of Land Management with over 3 million visitors a year. BLM, Park Rangers, SNCC and locals spend time building designated trails to preserve and restore wildlife habitat, natural resources, and prevent unnecessary erosion. - The vast majority of rock type in all of Red Rock Canyon is the type of Aztec Sandstone which is prone to breaking after rain. Depending on how much rain has accumulated, do not climb for anywhere from 24-72 hours. The Southeastern side of Las Vegas does have some climbing alternatives after rain, such as Big Sandy or Keyhole Canyon, although of considerably less quality than Red Rock. Gyms in town such as Red Rock Climbing Center and The Refuge are also options. - Be mindful of all other visitors enjoying and admiring what Red Rock has to offer. Depending on where you choose to climb, you will likely run in to many climbers and non-climbers alike enjoying the beauty that Red Rock has to offer. This includes monitoring pets especially in crowded areas like Kraft, Red Spring, First Pullout and Willow Springs. Located within the desert the weather and climbing season of Red Rock favors the Winter months. The most prime days ranging from November-March, with shoulder-season climbing possible in September/October and April/May if you're willing to chase shade. It is common to have stretches of rainy days and weeks even during the prime months, where climbing becomes no longer possible until the sandstone dries. - Pay attention to designated boulders that have been marked off limits and closed for various reasons. This includes, but is not limited to, the Birthing Boulder in Kraft with the old-school classic Caliman V7, any climbs near the Red Spring Boardwalk, including the modern testpiece Tourist Trap V9, another old school classic Desert Rain V10 in First Pullout, as well as Ambacamba V10 near the Fish Head in Windy Canyon. All generally closed due to proximity to Native American Rock Art, protected under the Archaelogical Resources Protection Act. Red Rock Canyon bouldering is generally categorized into four areas: 1. The zones within the Calico Basin are the first you approach from Charleston Blvd as it transitions into SR159. You turn right onto Calico Basin Rd to access either the Red Spring, Calico Basin, Kraft or Gateway Canyon boulders via designated parking spots. These areas are free of charge to access, the most popular and densely crowded. Kraft, Calico and Red Spring generally have short approaches with some outliers, and Gateway is farther in. Park only in designated spots, and be prepared to find alternative locations if parking is full, especially during the prime months of the season. 2. The majority of Canyons are within the 13-mile Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop which is more restrictive to climb at. A timed reservation booked through recreation.gov is required from October 1st to May 31st and the entry gate is only open from 8am-5pm. There is a $2 fee for every reservation, and either a $20 per-day entry fee or an annual pass such as America the Beautiful or Red Rock. Reservations tend to get full during prime-time slots. The zones accessed through this loop are First Pullout, Second Pullout, Sandstone Quarry, White Rock Springs, Willow Springs, Ice Box Canyon, Pine Creek Canyon, Juniper Canyon, and Oak Creek Canyon. First Pullout can be accessed from outside the loop via Red Spring with more hiking, and Oak Creek Canyon can be accessed from outside the loop via Middle/South Oak Creek Trailhed with more hiking. The 13-mile loop is one-way, thus once you go past a particular zone, you cannot go back to it without a new reservation and re-entering the loop. Do not stay past dusk. 3. South Oak Creek Canyon near Mount Wilson and First Creek Canyon are accessed via designed parking lots past the exit of the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop on SR159. They are free of charge and you do not need to drive through the loop. 4. Southern Outcrops, Windy Canyon, Mud Springs Canyon, Black Velvet Canyon and Mustang Canyon are all accessed via SR160 south of SR159. Most easily accessible through different road forks off of the Late Night Trailhead, each with their own designated parking spots, these generally require cars with good ground clearance, but the flattened level of the dirt roads can change from season to season. There is no charge for climbing in these canyons.