Climbing Areas Archives | The Adventure Collective

Category Climbing Areas

Grandmother Mountain Boulders (Linville)

Grandmother Mountain Boulders (Linville): First discovered for their bouldering potential in the mid-1990s, the Grandmother Mountain area near Boone, NC now hosts more than 400 problems and some of the best stone in the entire Southeast, all in a stunningly beautiful and cool sub-alpine forest. The area has a reputation for being a locals-only area, but that’s changing thanks to the grassroots efforts of climbers themselves. They have carved out a world-class climbing area from the thick vegetation and...

Linville Gorge Chimneys Climbing (Boone)

The Chimneys (Linville Gorge, Pisgah NF): The .7-mile hike to the 21 Chimneys atop Linville Gorge is among the most beautiful vistas in North Carolina, amidst one of the most remote areas in the Blue Ridge. The steep climbs are a great area to set up top ropes, with slightly overhanging big pockets to climb and numerous cracks. The Chimneys are a...

Looking Glass Rock Climbing (Brevard)

Looking Glass Rock | Traditional Climbing: Perhaps the quintessential southeastern US climbing spot, Looking Glass Rock features enough routes to occupy many a full day of adventure. Steeped in history and set in the most beautiful part of the Pisgah NF, the massive, white granite dome includes climbs of all varieties and grades, providing challenges for first-time novices and...

Rumbling Bald Rock Climbing (Asheville)

Rumbling Bald Rock Climbing & Bouldering: In 2008, the state parks system acquired a tract of land for Chimney Rock State Park that assures public access to this climbing wonderland. The mountain’s cliffs are known for their ultra-classic crack climbing, thin face climbs and overhanging sport routes while the park is also home to world-class bouldering opportunities, attractive to both...

Looking Glass Boulders (Brevard)

North Side Boulders At Looking Glass Rock: Tucked away beneath the 500-foot-tall North Face of Looking Glass Rock are a handful of classic boulder problems well worth a visit. Thanks to the blocky granite of Looking Glass, the boulders have a unique style unlike most other areas in WNC. Classic climbs can be found in the V2 to V8+ range with a good selection of moderates that offer plenty of options to keep most boulderers busy for a few...

Cedar Rock Trad Climbing (Brevard)

Cedar Rock Trad Climbing (Pisgah National Forest): With a vast difficulty range that accommodates all skill levels and over two dozen varied climbs, Cedar Rock is a popular yet typically uncrowded climbing spot. The dome’s main wall features classic climbs like Cedar Pie and Toads R Us, requiring delicate face climbing, but numerous smaller climbs abound in the vicinity....

Blowing Rock Boulders

Blowing Rock Boulders: First tapped for their bouldering potential in 1985 by Joey Henson, the Blowing Rock Bouldering Area features a wide-range of problems from V0 to v10. With flat landings, incredible rock quality, a beautiful forest setting, and more than enough problems for the visiting climber to work through, the Blowing Rock Boulders are the place to be...

107 Boulders | Western Carolina University

107 Boulders | Western Carolina University: The 107 Boulders are located just a short drive from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee and make for a fun local climbing spot about 20 minutes from the college campus at Western Carolina University. The boulders get their name from Highway 107 as they’re located adjacent to the road with a very easy approach....

Trad Climbing At The T-Wall (Chattanooga)

Tennessee Wall aka T-Wall (Suck Creek, Prentice Cooper State Forest): The Tennessee Wall is the “crown jewel” of the Sandstone Belt. Located on the Prentice Cooper State Forest, it is regarded as the premier cliff near Chattanooga, offering routes in all grades and styles (sport and traditional), with impeccable bullet hard rock quality and spectacular vistas of the Tennessee River Gorge below, this is must stop for the rock climbing connoisseur. The three miles of T-Wall cliffline offers one to...

Sunset Rock Climbing (Chattanooga)

Sunset Rock (Lookout Mountain): Located on the west brow of Lookout Mountain, in the Chickamauga National Battlefield Park, Sunset is considered the birthplace of the Chattanooga climbing scene. Many of the earliest climbing developers cut their teeth and pushed the difficulty boundaries on the bullet hard white and orange sandstone of Sunset Park. Once you visit this area you’ll know...

Stone Fort Boulders (Chattanooga)

Stone Fort, aka Little Rock City (Soddy Daisy, Mowbray Mountain): This is quite possibly one of the best venues for bouldering in the United States. This area has been closed to the public for most of its history, but with efforts of the Southeastern Climbers Coalition (seclimbers.org) and area locals this beautiful boulder field is now open on a pay...

Rocktown Boulders (Chattanooga)

Rocktown (Lafayette, Pigeon Mountain) Rocktown is a boulderfield located on top of Pigeon Mountain near Lafayette and the Georgia-Tennessee state line. It is internationally re-known for it’s high quality sandstone boulders. The camping is primitive near the ranger’s house at the bottom of the mountain. Check for seasonal closures due to managed hunts. Call the Armuchee Ranger District office...

Lost Wall Climbing (Chattanooga)

Lost Wall (Lafayette, Pigeon Mountain): The Lost Wall doesn’t have the length of cliffline, the height or even the rock quality to match the Tennessee Crags, but it’s still a worthwhile destination. With a number of good routes for topropers and leaders trying to hone their skills, along with some routes like Booze and Broads, add great camping, caving, and Rocktown boulders nearby, Lost Wall really becomes enticing. Lost Wall is a predominantly trad area, with single-pitch lines ranging from...

Horse Pens 40 Boulders (Chattanooga)

Horse Pens 40 (Oneida, AL): Horse Pens 40 is an international destination for boulderers, with acres of bulbous sandstone faces, blunt prows, tall slabs, steep overhangs, and challenging water grooves. For a small day fee ($5/day/climber), the owners, Mike and Gina Shultz, have been so kind to open up this once closed gem of a boulder field to the public....

Foster Falls Climbing (Chattanooga)

Foster Falls (Jasper): Great wall of southern sandstone, featuring beginner, moderate, and expert level sport routes averaging between 50-70 feet tall. Everything from slabs to steep walls line this 2 mile long cliff. The wall mainly faces south, so it is showered by sun light all day. The Right Bunker and the Darkie Cave offer some shade from the sun....

Curtis Creek Boulders | Old Fort

Curtis Creek Boulders (Old Fort, Pisgah National Forest): A nice collection of conglomerate boulders located just a short drive from Asheville make for a good destination when looking for some new rock to play on. The largest boulder features some fun moderates, while satellite boulders offer up a handful of additional moderates and some select hard climbs. Developed by a...

Corner Rock Boulder | Big Ivy Wilderness

Corner Rock Boulder (Big Ivy Wilderness, Barndardsville): Big, steep and concentrated: this boulder is like a little crag of problems. Perched above a creek in the majestic Pisgah National Forest this boulder is a true gem. Generally speaking, the boulder has a few warm-ups in the V2 to V5 range, but the bulk of the climbing is concentrated on the harder grades that make this one of the best testpieces for boulders in the Asheville area. With a wide...

Stony Bald Boulders | Blue Ridge Parkway

Stony Bald Boulders (Blue Ridge Parkway): The Stony Bald Boulders are on the south face of Stony Bald, NC at over 4000′ and up the hill from the Shut-in Ridge trail. The area is somewhat developed for bouldering, but still has opportunities for further development with a few projects located on some of the various boulders. Generally, the area features...

Grandmother Mountain Bouldering

Grandmother Mountain Bouldering (Boone Bouldering Guide): The hidden gem of the High Country and one of the area’s premier bouldering locations year-round thanks to its cool high elevation climate is Grandmother Mountain. First tapped for its climbing potential in the mid- to late-1990s, the quartzite climbing area near Boone, N.C., is now host to more than 400 problems and...