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Welcome to the City! If you have never been here before you are in for a treat. World class climbing awaits you no matter what your free-climbing genre. The camping is convenient, the scenery is beautiful, the routes are varied and there is no “scene” but the scenic beauty of a high altitude desert.
Dozens of routes are described here with photographs and detailed route information. Formations along Emery Canyon Road have nearby parking pullouts and are a very
short hike from your vehicle. Formations along the California Trail can be accessed by pullouts along City of Rocks Road and Twin Sisters Road.
Contrary to a popular belief perpetuated in the media, the City of Rocks is not a modern sport climbing area. The area’s character is complex, owed to a 50 year climbing history, the variety of people who influenced it and the rock itself. Cracks, slabs and highly featured faces exist in nearly equal proportions and the logistics of protecting these routes vary widely. 20% of the routes are not protectable with artificial devices. Another 20% are completely protectable
with fixed 3/8” closely-spaced bolts. Most routes here utilize removable protection between fixed protection and may or may not be strongly protected.
City of Rocks National Reserve is internationally known for technical rock climbing. It is not unheard of for a European climbers to fly here. American climbers have made it one of their favorite areas.
Nearest town or city:
Almo
Directions:
This place is in the middle of nowhere! Get that straight right now. You will need to drive in on dirt roads. The nearest town is miles away. The nearest airstrip is a private one outside Burley. The CRNR and CRSP nearly border each other. They are located in south-central Idaho, along the northern border of Utah. From points SOUTHEAST of here (Utah, Colorado) Traveling north on I-15 in Utah: Veer left (northwest) onto I-84 and continue past Snowville. Turn left (west) on Utah SR-30 (exit 5) and continue for 15 miles. Drive another
9 miles, straight ahead, from where SR-30 becomes Idaho SR-42. SR-42 will bend to the
north. Turn left (west) onto 3600 South (AKA Strevell Road) and continue for about 17 miles.
Veer right at the first Y in the road. Veer right (north) again onto Yost Road and continue
about 3 miles. Turn left (west) onto 3250 South (AKA EY Road) and continue for about 5.5
miles. Turn right (north) onto 825 East and continue for 100 yards. Turn left (west) onto
3075 South (City of Rocks Road) or continue straight ahead (through Almo) and take first left into CRSP. Another popular route travels north, through Bridge and Malta, then southwest through Elba and Almo. This route is longer, but the roads are all paved. From points SOUTHWEST of here (Nevada, California) Traveling east on I-80 in Nevada: Turn left (north) onto Nevada SR-233. SR-233 bends east and becomes Utah SR-30. Turn left (north) and continue through Lynn. Veer left (north) and continue to Idaho. Turn right (east) onto Twin Sisters road (south reserve entrance).
From points NORTHEAST of here (Eastern Idaho, Wyoming) Traveling west on I-86 in Idaho: Veer right (west) onto I-84. Turn left (south) onto SR-77 (exit 216) and continue through Declo and Albion. Turn right (southwest) and continue (through Elba) to Almo. Turn right (north) just before downtown Almo to enter CRSP or continue ¼ mile (through Almo). Take your first right onto City of Rocks road (east reserve entrance).
From points NORTHWEST of here (Western Idaho, Washington) Traveling east on I-84 in Idaho: Turn right (south) onto Route 27 (exit 208) through Burley. Turn left (east) onto Main Street and continue for 1 mile. Veer right (south) onto Birch Creek
Road and continue for about 15 miles (road will degrade to dirt). Turn left (west) onto City of Rocks Road (west reserve entrance).
