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Elevation: 565 ft
GPS: 33.7609, -86.87987
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: saxfiend on Jan 5, 2007
Admins: Stonyman Killough, Luke Cornejo, saxfiend

Description Suggest change

It may not be the first place you think of as a climbing destination, but Alabama has some excellent crags to choose from, most within a two-hour drive of Atlanta or Birmingham.

Climbing in Alabama is mostly sandstone. The Cumberland Plateau, which hosts the great sandstone cliffs of Tennessee, extends into northern Alabama. Areas like Jamestown are similar to T-Wall and Sunset in Chattanooga, though the cliffs are not as tall. Other areas like Sand Rock, by contrast, tend toward sandstone with a fair amount of conglomerate mixed in.

For trad climbers, Jamestown is the top destination, with numerous excellent lines. Areas like Sand Rock and Griffin Falls have a mix of sport and trad, while Palisades Park is a great place for setting up easy to moderate topropes. Boulderers can enjoy the great problems of Horse Pens 40 and Moss Rock Preserve.

Because many of Alabama's destinations are on private land, access has been a perennial problem. While there are some areas that have been closed with little hope of ever reopening, Jamestown is a special success story. In 2005, the Southeastern Climbers Coalition purchased the land that includes the Jamestown cliffline, reopening the area to legal climbing for the first time in 12 years. With luck, other off-limits areas can be reopened with similar tactics.

Getting There Suggest change

See individual climbing areas for specific directions.

2,009 Total Climbs

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Location: Alabama Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Alabama

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1 5
 145
Merlin
Boulder
V1+ 5
 82
Night Fever
Boulder
V3 6A
 127
Genesis
Boulder
V3 6A
 132
Earth Wind & Fire
Boulder
V3 6A
 66
Grooverider
Boulder
V3 6A
 306
Bumboy
Boulder
V4 6B
 79
Centerpede
Boulder
V5 6C
 147
Hammerhead
Boulder
V5 6C
 81
Popeye
Boulder
V5 6C
 101
Cuts Like a Knife
Boulder
V5 6C
 54
Millipede
Boulder
V6 7A
 78
Redneck
Boulder
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 127
Comfortably Numb
Trad, TR
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 373
Misty
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 176
Dreamscape
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Merlin Horse Pens 40 > Middle > Skywalker Area
 145
V1 5 Boulder
Night Fever Horse Pens 40 > Deck Area/Front Slabs
 82
V1+ 5 Boulder
Genesis Horse Pens 40 > Middle > Skywalker Area
 127
V3 6A Boulder
Earth Wind & Fire Horse Pens 40 > Deck Area/Front Slabs
 132
V3 6A Boulder
Grooverider Horse Pens 40 > Turtle Rock Area/ Nat…
 66
V3 6A Boulder
Bumboy Horse Pens 40 > Supa Coola Area/ Mill…
 306
V3 6A Boulder
Centerpede Horse Pens 40 > Supa Coola Area/ Mill…
 79
V4 6B Boulder
Hammerhead Horse Pens 40 > Deck Area/Front Slabs
 147
V5 6C Boulder
Popeye Horse Pens 40 > Ten Pins Area
 81
V5 6C Boulder
Cuts Like a Knife Horse Pens 40 > Slider Boulders > Slider Boulder
 101
V5 6C Boulder
Millipede Horse Pens 40 > Supa Coola Area/ Mill…
 54
V5 6C Boulder
Redneck Horse Pens 40 > Point Boulders (Redne…
 78
V6 7A Boulder
Comfortably Numb Sand Rock > Pinnacle
 127
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Misty Sand Rock > Sun Wall
 373
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Dreamscape Sand Rock > Sun Wall
 176
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Alabama »

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