Mountain Project Logo

Atlanta Climbing Situation

Original Post
MattH · · CO / NM / ME · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 1,226

Hey Mountainproject,
I'm considering Georgia Tech for grad school, and I'm wondering how the climbing scene is as an Atlanta resident. Obviously Stone Summit is nearby and there are a number of crags in the Chattanooga area (with rocktown slightly closer) but I don't know how far everything is on a realistic weekend and might have missed some spots. I mostly like hard bouldering/sport climbing, but I'm not opposed to trad climbing. Is there any hard roped climbing closer than foster falls? Is there any potential for new development (other than choss chasing)? Wherever I go, I'll be for 5 years, so I'd like to find somewhere that I can see myself not getting burnt out on the local options, and I'll have a hard time committing 5+hrs driving to/from the crag every time I want to climb outside.
Thanks!

Wes Whitaker · · Atlanta, GA · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 126

Hey Matt... my wife and I moved here from San Diego about a year ago and we were worried about climbing options, also. I can relate. I have to be honest and tell you that I've been pleasantly surprised. There is a pretty vibrant climbing scene in the ATL area (join the SCC) but it is clearly nothing like what you'll find in other more well known climbing communities. You'll find Stone Summit (2 locations) or any of a number of other gyms to be a go to during bad weather or summer heat but, with that being said, you'll never be at a loss for sport, trad, or bouldering within a 2-3 hour drive. Best options are SandRock (people think of this as an outdoor climbing gym) and/or Little River Canyon (mostly sport with some solid bouldering) or Jamestown (trad) in Alabama; Tennessee has many options for all sorts of climbing in the Chatt area but the highlights for reasonable driving distance from ATL (in my opinion) would be TWall, Foster, Leda, and/or Sunset Park; if you want to stay closer to ATL, there's the classic GA bouldering mecca of Boat Rock (ATL metro) and RockTown (just below Chatt), Lost Wall (trad) and the less interesting but close Mt. Yonah or Currahee (both sport/trad and even some decent bouldering); North Carolina is a touch farther (think 4+ hours) but the climbing up there is better than everything I mentioned here. All of these options are very realistic options for weekends and even single day trips (leave early). If you are looking for hard rope climbing, Little River Canyon (Alabama) is your spot for a plethora of 5'11+ sport climbs.

In short... there is a scene. You'll have options, but you'll spend 2-3 hours in the car. Good luck. Ga Tech is a good school... you'll meet several good climbers there if you make the effort.

DB Cee · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined May 2007 · Points: 146

Fosters is the least of your options for hard sport climbing...

If you're willing to camp on weekends (drive up friday night and back Sunday night) you'll never get bored with climbing around Little River Canyon or Chattanooga, ever. I lived in Chatt for 5 years and still miss it.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
Post a Reply to "Atlanta Climbing Situation"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.