City of Rocks National Reserve Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
City of Rocks National Reserve [1] is a unit of the United States National Park System that is located in southern Idaho. The Reserve is popular with hikers and rock climbing who come to wander through the maze of massive boulders (some over 100 meters tall).
Contents |
Understand
History
Landscape
Flora and fauna
Climate
Get in
By plane
The nearest air service is Burley(charter) (45 miles), Twin Falls (85 miles), Salt Lake City (170 miles), Boise (215 miles), Pocatello (100 miles).
By car
The reserve is located 45 miles south of Burley, Idaho. From Boise and the west, take I-84 to Declo exit 216 and south to Idaho route 77 to Albion, Elba, and Almo. From Pocatello and Idaho Falls, take I-86 & I-84 to the Declo exit and then south to Almo. From Salt Lake City take I-15 north to Tremonton, then west on I-84 to Snowville and then routes 30 and 42, or continue north on I-84 to Sublette exit 245 and go west toward Malta, Elba, and Almo. There is a seasonal summer route through Oakley via Route 27.
By public transportation
There is no public transportation to the reserve.
Fees/Permits
A day use fee is not collected at City of Rocks; however, there is a $7 / night / site fee for overnight camping.
Get around
See
Do
Buy
Eat
There are no restaurants, stores or vending machines within the park. If you are hungry, the nearest town of Almo has a general store and a restaurant.
Drink
The park has several fresh water sources in the park. Two of them are pump wells that are located just off the road near a parking area (one near Bath Rock and the other is near the Breadloaf). The water sources are marked on the park's map. Aside from the wells, there is nothing else in the park. If you are thirsty, you'll be traveling to nearby Almo.
Sleep
Lodging
There are no hotel/motel accommodations in the park. Nearby Almo has limted accommodation choices but there are some yurts for rent within the town if you are looking for a roof over your head.
Camping
City of Rocks has approximately 50 camping sites that are spread out within the park, along the main road. Most of them feel quite seculded as they are nestled among the trees and large boulders of the park. Camping is only allowed in designated areas and a $7 fee is charged per night for each camping site used. Each site is limited to eight people and one vehicle, there is an extra $5 / night charge for a second vehicle. Camp sites can be reserved online and reservations are recommended during the weekends when the sites fill up quickly. Otherwise, you can pay for your camp site at the Ranger station, located east of the park in Almo.
The campsites are primitive, facilities include picnic tables, bbq grills and fire rings. There are pit toilets scattered about the sites, all within walking distance but some of the more secluded walk-in sites may be a few minute walk away. There are two fresh water wells within the park.
There are no showers in the park. The nearest showers are at the General Store in nearby Almo ($4 for a shower and $0.50 for a towel rental). Another pleasant option is to visit the new Durfee Hot Springs in Almo where you can combine a shower with a hot water soak.
Garbage bins are located near the pit toilets within the park.
Backcountry
Camping is only permitted in the designated campsites within the park.
Stay safe
The primary dangers while staying in the park are the natural elements. The high elevation of the park ensures that the weather changes constantly. In the summer, hot days coupled with cold nights are the norm and it is not uncommon to experience snow during any time of the year. Wind and rain can also be extreme and dangerous to the unprepared visitor. Though coyotes and cougars are common in the area, wildlife does not pose much of a threat in the park as long as food is not left in the open.
Get out
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