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Elevation: 1,286 ft 392 m
GPS: 33.98856, -86.45815
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Shared By: saxfiend on Jan 30, 2007 · Updates
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Description Suggest change

If you're looking for a pleasant spot to bring friends new to climbing, Alabama's Palisades Park is a great choice.

Located not far from Birmingham, Palisades is a Blount County Park with a nice little cliff line running just below its parking lot. There's a good range of climbing difficulty, ranging from easy 5.4 up to roofy 5.12. Almost all routes can be easily top-roped without leading, and most have permanent anchors, so it's a perfect place for a beginner's first outdoor climbing experience. And if you're just getting started on trad, Palisades is an excellent training ground; routes like Buckets (5.5) offer easy leading and plentiful protection. Be aware, though, that the grades tend to be sandbagged; Elephant Crack (5.6) and Box Lunch (5.7) are not for the novice leader. There's no sport climbing at Palisades; no bolting is allowed.

All climbers must register at the park office and buy a $5 climbing permit (good for three days) or a $35 annual permit. From the parking lot, head for the cliff top near a picnic pavilion and scramble down a fourth-class gully/chimney to the base of the cliff.

If you need a map of the routes, the park office will supply you with one. Otherwise, the Dixie Cragger's Atlas is a good resource for routes at Palisades.

Getting There Suggest change

From Birmingham, take SR 75 north to Oneonta. Take a left on US 231 (north); about a mile or two outside of Oneonta, watch for signs pointing to Palisades Park and follow county roads to the park entrance.

From Atlanta, take I-20 west to the US 231 exit. Follow 231 north through Oneonta, then follow directions above to the park.

61 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Palisades Park

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 34
Posey's Pass
Trad, TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 54
Elephant Crack
Trad, TR
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 38
Box Lunch
Trad
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 58
Cashmere
Trad, TR
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 35
Steeples
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 25
Nine to Five
Trad, TR
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 19
R&D
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 18
Captain Crunch
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 35
The Flake
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 13
Trivial Pursuit
Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 53
Boobs
Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 21
Mickey's Mantle
Trad, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 18
Tim's Route
Trad, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 19
Night of the climbing dead
TR
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 17
Christmas Crack
Trad, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Posey's Pass
 34
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, TR
Elephant Crack
 54
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
Box Lunch
 38
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Trad
Cashmere
 58
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Trad, TR
Steeples
 35
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Trad, TR
Nine to Five
 25
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
R&D
 19
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
Captain Crunch
 18
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
The Flake
 35
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Trivial Pursuit
 13
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Boobs
 53
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, TR
Mickey's Mantle
 21
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, TR
Tim's Route
 18
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR
Night of the climbing dead
 19
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b TR
Christmas Crack
 17
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, TR
More Classic Climbs in Palisades Park »

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