Gorgeous Rocks Rock Climbing
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Elevation: | 822 ft | 251 m |
GPS: |
40.8848, -75.7634 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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Page Views: | 29,085 total · 180/month | |
Shared By: | joeforte on Sep 1, 2011 | |
Admins: | Justin Johnsen, SCPC, SWPACC, EPAC |
Access Issue: Closed to Climbing
Details
Lehigh Gorge State Park is currently Closed to Rock Climbing. For more information, or to support future access initiatives, please connect with your local climbing organization, the Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance of Climbers. epaclimbers.org
Access Issue: This crag is closed as of 2022.
Details
The climbing in this section is closed for over a year. The trail leading to the crag has been closed, by the state park due to unsafe conditions.
Description
A little hidden crag on the wild side of Glen Onoko. A couple dozen trad, sport and mixed routes, which can also be toproped from bolts and trees, on good rock: Pocono Formation sandstone. It faces northeast and has thick tree cover, so it stays shady.
Climbed and developed in the 1990's by Randy Ross, the Miscavages, the Holzmans, Ryan Lucas and Joe Forte, and in the 2000's by Erica Meyers, Jeff Carroll, and Dave Kotch.
Climbed and developed in the 1990's by Randy Ross, the Miscavages, the Holzmans, Ryan Lucas and Joe Forte, and in the 2000's by Erica Meyers, Jeff Carroll, and Dave Kotch.
Getting There
Getting there is not as hard as it used to be. The access trail has recently been cleaned up quite a bit. Figure a 10-15 min uphill approach.
Park at the Glen Onoko lot, and follow the trail signs down the stairs, then north under the railroad bridge. Follow the trails left along the shore of the river until you reach the stream that flows from the glen.
To get to the base of the cliff (easier): When you cross a stream feeding into the Lehigh River out of Glen Onoko, walk 50 feet and then follow the obvious trail uphill. Stay close to the edge of the glen ravine trending uphill and right whenever the trail forks. You will be traversing a small clifftop for a section of this hike so be careful of the fall potential. The trail will then tunnel through thick stands of Rhodedendron (recently maintained), and eventually bring you to the base of the welcome crack.
To get to the top of the cliff (more strenuous and overgrown): When you cross a stream feeding into the Lehigh River out of Glen Onoko, walk 50 feet and then follow the obvious trail uphill to the right. Keep heading generally north and uphill, around a thick stand over rhododendrons and scrambling over boulders. Eventually reach the cliff top at Gorgeous Rocks, and rappel down to reach the base of the climbs. (much more strenuous and not recommended)
Park at the Glen Onoko lot, and follow the trail signs down the stairs, then north under the railroad bridge. Follow the trails left along the shore of the river until you reach the stream that flows from the glen.
To get to the base of the cliff (easier): When you cross a stream feeding into the Lehigh River out of Glen Onoko, walk 50 feet and then follow the obvious trail uphill. Stay close to the edge of the glen ravine trending uphill and right whenever the trail forks. You will be traversing a small clifftop for a section of this hike so be careful of the fall potential. The trail will then tunnel through thick stands of Rhodedendron (recently maintained), and eventually bring you to the base of the welcome crack.
To get to the top of the cliff (more strenuous and overgrown): When you cross a stream feeding into the Lehigh River out of Glen Onoko, walk 50 feet and then follow the obvious trail uphill to the right. Keep heading generally north and uphill, around a thick stand over rhododendrons and scrambling over boulders. Eventually reach the cliff top at Gorgeous Rocks, and rappel down to reach the base of the climbs. (much more strenuous and not recommended)
Classic Climbing Routes at Gorgeous Rocks
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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