Maple Canyon Beta
When the weather’s hot in Utah, head to Maple Canyon! Just two hours south of Salt Lake City, Maple Canyon is known for juggy, overhanging climbs and cheap camping. Many of the routes have permadraws, so you can push the grade with no commitment! Read below for info on camping, guidebooks, and nearby amenities.
When to Visit
Late Spring, Summer, and early Autumn. You can escape the summer heat in Maple Canyon’s cool corridor’s, but snow can arrive as early as September. Paid campsites are open May 9 – October 31.
Camping Options
Climbers can find free campsites in the lower part of the canyon and inexpensive paid sites in the upper canyon. Cars roll in at a steady pace on Friday nights, so grab a free or paid campsite before they fill up.
Free Camping (private land)
Climbers can camp for free along the road in the lower part of Maple Canyon. As you drive into Maple Canyon and up the road, look to your right for primitive campsites. Most sites have fire rings and a flat clearing for your car and tent. For your bathroom needs, bring a spade or drive up the canyon to the BLM pit toilets. Bring your own water, table, and camp chairs. Some campsites are within walking distance of climbing areas, such as Box Canyon.
Free Camping
Paid Camping (Uinta National Forest)
The upper part of Maple Canyon is owned by the Uinta National Forest, which currently charges $3 for parking and $8 for a campsite. Check the campground website for potential fee increases. The paid campsites feature a fire ring, flat platform for tents, and a picnic table. These wooded sites are within walking distance from parking, the pit toilets, and the some of the most popular climbing walls. The campground host keeps the pit toilets very clean. Bring your own water! Campsites are open May 9 – October 31.
Guidebooks
Maple Canyon has two guidebooks, both of which can be purchased online. Read the reviews to decide which book is best for you.
Wolverine Publishing’s Maple Canyon Rock Climbs
Darren Knezek’s Maple Canyon Climbing Guidebook
Nearby Amenities
Drive 25 minutes from Maple Canyon to the small college town of Ephraim for most amenities such as water, showers, internet, and groceries. For laundry, drive to Manti, a small town ten minutes south of Ephraim.
Groceries
You will pass Wal-Mart on your right as you drive into Ephraim.
Laundry
The Manti Laundromat, ten minutes south of Ephraim, is clean and inexpensive. The Temple Hill RV Park in Manti also has coin operated laundry machines, but you must pay a $5.00 day pass to access the RV Park’s facilities, including the laundry machines.
Showers
The Snow College Activity Center offers showers for $2 and access to its fitness facility for $3. Expect very basic locker room showers with lukewarm water (the Woman’s locker room has shower curtains, but the Men’s locker room does not).
Water
Both the Snow College Activity Center and the Library have water fountains for filling up water bottles, and the large church pavilion near the Solid Rock Cafe also has a water spigot for filling up water jugs.
WiFi
Both the Solid Rock Cafe and the Snow College Library offer internet and free parking. Despite its name “the Solid Rock Cafe“, the coffee shop does not specifically cater to climbers! Guests to Snow College must register daily for free internet service. Contact the IT department if the internet guest registration does not work. The Snow College library has comfortable couches and tables, plentiful outlets, and a good book and magazine selection.
For beta on other climbing areas, check out the Weekend Cragger’s page Destination Beta..
