Joe’s Valley
What You Should Know
A GREEN link means that there are adult and kid climbs in that area. Click on it for more information so you can know if it will work for your family. A YELLOW link means there are no kid climbs but you can bring the family along as you climb. The areas are then rated from 1-5 cheerios (1 being the worst area to take your family and 5 being the best). A RED link means that it is essentially a no go. Click and find out the reasons why so you can make your own decision.
Joe’s Valley has amazing bouldering and primitive camping. We’ve camped here quite a few times with out kids. There are lots of fun options and climbs that even your littlest can do. Last time we were there, there was only one portapotty in the right fork in the main large parking lot where most climbers tent to camp in a group and socialize. There are other campsites scattered around both forks.
I’ve recently been made aware that camping in the Left Fork as been closed, so keep updated on what is currently permitted.
Almost all the places are safe to do with kids if you are willing to do the approach. The hike for most really are not that long. However, I’ve listed a few areas in yellow that would be the easiest with kiddos because of the short approach.
Bouldering
Warm-up Area: Warm-up Boulder
Popular but great with a short walk up a staircase to a large variety of climbs.
U.M.W.A. Area
Right off the road but not a ton of options for your kids.
BoySize Area: Boy Size Boulder
Lots of climbs for kiddos but a bit of an approach.
Crack Area
This boulder is too tall for kids. But its right off the road and across the street from a river. You can find more information about it on pg. 36 of the Guidebook.
Thighmaster Area
This boulder only has 4 routes ranging form V2-V7 so it hasn’t been on my top list but it is another zero approach area. You can find more information on pg. 76 of the Guidebook.
Additional Activities
Camping
The camping is free here. Most climbers then to camp in the large pullout with the portapotty in the right for. There is a large pullout in the left fork next to the river which also gets a lot of climbers. This is tons of fun if you want to mingle with other climbers. Since we are usually the only people with kids and don’t want to bother anyone we go for one of the many other more private areas on our own and then have to drive to the bathroom when we need.
Joe’s Valley Reservoir
You just have to finish driving through the left fork to get here. There’s camping there as well that you can reserve and pay for. We never do this because its probably about a 20 minute drive that we don’t want to do multiple times a day. However, for part of the day or a no climb day your kids will love this. Its a rocky reservoir that they can swim, boat, or fish in.
River
This river comes out of the Reservoir up canyon and is absolutely gorgeous. There are a few spots that you can find to cross which we’ve done with our kids. You can even camp here. We have chosen not to only for fear of our kids getting away without us noticing and falling in. Its a fun place to picnic or take a stroll. We’ve also used our pump to purify water here with the kids which they thought was super cool – the water was fantastic too.
Hikes
There are hikes all over.