Beam Rocks Climbing
Elevation: | 2,592 ft | 790 m |
GPS: |
40.13262, -79.15671 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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Page Views: | 32,998 total · 258/month | |
Shared By: | Joe L 82 on Aug 9, 2014 | |
Admins: | Justin Johnsen, SCPC, SWPACC, EPAC |
Description
Beam Rocks is located in the Forbes State Forest of the Laurel Highlands of Southwest, PA. Very nice, taller (for PA....70') roped climbing (sport, trad, toproping) and some engaging bouldering around the base. All the climbing is concentrated in a small location. The cliff overlooks the scenic Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, which meanders through the boulders at the base. Shaded, sometimes damp, with softer rock that nevertheless stays nice with enough traffic. Until recently, the beta on Beam had been that it was difficult to rig, covered in trash and graffitti, and tricky with hikers at the top navigating the 50ft TR setups. That's changed in recent years with regular cleanups and an equipping project carried out by the Southwestern PA Climbers Coalition in partnership with Forbes State Forest administration (DCNR) in 2023. Many of the routes are fully equipped for lead/toprope and the area stays clean. A very nice spot indeed.
See the ropes section for the routes, and the bouldering section for the boulders.
Getting There
From Ligonier or further West take Route 30 East up the mountain, at top make right onto Laurel Summit Rd. From Jennerstown or further East, take route 30 West past Jennerstown, at top of mountain turn left onto Laurel Summit Rd.
Once on Laurel Summit Rd, follow it for a couple miles until it turns into a dirt rd, then past some parking along the road on the right. Stay on the road for another couple miles keeping an eye on signs on the left. A ways PAST Beam Run sign, there will be a small parking area on the left and a sign that says Beam Rocks. Park there and follow the wide crushed limestone trail that goes away from the road on a perpendicular to the climbing area. Continue on the wide limestone hiking path for about 5 minutes. When the trail forks, if you stay left it will take you to the top of the crag in another minute or two (hanging a right following the red blazed trail is the easiest, though slightly longer route to the base of the cliff). Once at the overlook over the main crag, you can access the bottom either by scrambling down around towards hiker's left, down around the base, or by returning up trail to the fork and taking the red blazed trail, which joins the LHHT and takes you through most of the bouldering, after which there is a small scree field you can scramble up to reach the base of the main cliff.
Classic Climbing Routes at Beam Rocks
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