Pennsylvania Guidebooks

Stone Crusade: A Historical Guide to Bouldering in America

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Stone Crusade has a (two page) chapter on Livezey Rock.

FEATURED: Wissahickon Bouldering

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"This guide covers 178 boulder problems, ranging from V0 to V14..."

Delaware Water Gap Routes on Gunks Apps

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This app describes the routes on both cliffs, which are managed by the National Park Service for recreation. It currently details 241 trad, 12 aid, 5 toprope, and 2 sport routes, as well as 9 boulder problems. There are no fees to climb in the gap, so come show it some love!

FEATURED: Chickies Rock Routes

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"This guidebook currently covers 53 routes from 5.2 to 5.11 (including 3 boulder problems) at Chickies Rock in Marietta, PA..."

Chickies Rock Climbing Guide (free PDF)

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A great free self-published guide by Michael Hartman.

FEATURED: Climbing in Ohiopyle State Park, PA (free)

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From Tim Anderson's climbPA blog.

FEATURED: High Rocks Climbing

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This digital guidebook is complete with photos and GPS navigation, and works offline. As of this posting it documents all the routes (133) and boulder problems (25) on the main cliff of High Rocks. More will be added, and it is kept updated. 60% of the proceeds goes to EPAC.

Rock Climbs of the Tohickon Gorge: A Climbers Guide to High Rocks (out of print)

`The third climbing guide to High Rocks after "A Climbers Guide to Boileau Rocks" (Kirby Ellis and Pete Kolman) and "Red Rock: A Climbers Guide to High Rocks" (Thomas Stryker and Warren Musselman). 81 pages. Contains 90 route descriptions with hand-drawn topo maps and a list of first ascents. Out of print.

Climb High Rocks State Park (2011) Amazon link to this out of print book.

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Paul Nick's self-published guide, updated in 2011. This is the most current and complete guide to High Rocks at Ralph Stover State Park.

His 1997 first version of the guide for this area was titled, "Classic Rock Climbs No. 12: Ralph Stover State Park, Pennsylvania."

"Green Guide" (out of print)

Peter Kolman and Kirby Ellis wrote the "Green Guide" in 1974. Long out-of-print.

Red Rock: A Climber's Guide to High Rocks (out of print)

Red Rock: A Climber's Guide to High Rocks, Thomas Stryker, 1985. Out of print.

FEATURED: Governor Stable Bouldering

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Complete digital guidebook to the problems at Governor Stable. 55% of proceeds go to SCPC.

FEATURED: Safe Harbor Routes

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Safe Harbor is 25 minutes southwest of Lancaster, PA and has 324 routes (and counting). They are mostly bolted sport climbs, with some trad and top ropes. Route development is ongoing, and this guidebook will continue to provide updates. Most of the cliff gets a lot of sun, which makes it a great destination during cooler temperatures.

Safe Harbor South Mini-Guide (free PDF)

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A free downloadable PDF mini-guide by Eric Hörst, a decades-long developer of the crag with many first ascents there.

Wissahickon Bouldering

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This guide covers 178 boulder problems, ranging from V0 to V14. Most boulders are located in Wissahickon Valley Park, in northwest Philadelphia, and most are right along established trails. Also included in this guide are Lorimer Cave in Lorimer Park, and the Arbor and Strange Gravity boulders in Curtis Arboretum. The rock is mostly schist, and the climbing styles include overhangs, slabs, dynos, and traverses. Easy access, and the proximity to downtown make this an urban climber's dream.

FEATURED: McConnells Mills Climbing

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An update to Bob Value's 1999 McConnell's Mill Classic Climbs put out by Falcon Guides, this guidebook is focused exclusively on McConnells Mills, with detailed approach instructions and topos for almost every climb it catalogues. With over 200 boulder problems and over 100 routes, the guide has an expansive offering of climbs in the park and will help you find lesser known gems off outside of the heavily-trafficked areas.

Dauphin Narrows Guide PDF

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Second Edition guidebook, based on the original by Tim Garland. Updated every once in a while. (The link says "Purchase" but it's just a link to the free PDF)

FEATURED: Haycock Bouldering Guidebook

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Haycock Bouldering Guidebook from Gunks+ App.

FEATURED: Haycock Mountain Bouldering (2012)

A new 2012 edition of Char's original out-of-print guidebook is in print.

FEATURED: "Birdsboro Routes" via the Gunks+ app

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"Birdsboro Routes" is a digital guidebook available within the Gunks+ app

FEATURED: Birdsboro topo (free PDF)

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The current one-page topo of Birdsboro climbs is available for free at the Reading Rocks website.

FEATURED: Tim Anderson's Breakneck Guide

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A great online guide to Breakneck on Tim's blog, Climbing PA!

Coll's Cove pre-guide

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Pete shared a free pre-release of his full guide in progress at one point, but my link went dead. Check the Coll's Cover page on FB, which seems like a live contact line.

Governor Dick Park Bouldering

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The third edition of the Governor Dick Park Bouldering guidebook is available at the Ed Center for $30. The author has donated 100% of the proceeds from book sales back to the park. Check the Ed Center hours before visiting, cash or check only.

Blue Run Rocks (free online guide)

A free online guide to Blue Run.

Rocky Ridge Google Maps Guide (free online map)

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Eric Heiden's excellent online map to bouldering at Rocky Ridge.

South Mountain Bouldering Guide

Seth Derr wrote:

"New South Mountain Bouldering guide is finished and available for purchase at Climbnasium in Mechanicsburg for $15.00. Includes Whiskey Springs, Tumbling Run, Purgatory, and Walnut Bottom. Full color photos, route descriptions, etc etc. Stop in and check it out."

CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT

PA Guidebook Apps (digital)

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http://paclimbing.com/

PA Climbing (Holzman 2018 print version)

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"Rock Climbing and Bouldering Pennsylvania “the Secrets of the Keystone State”.
The Pennsylvania Rock Climbing and bouldering guidebook is a 500 page comprehensive guidebook for all of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Rock Climbing GuidebookThe first comprehensive guidebook for the state of Pennsylvania. This book has detailed descriptions, history, precise topo maps, and grades for over 50 areas throughout Pennsylvania. The PA climbing guidebook is the first book to document statewide climbing history for a state that has little documented information until now. The book is nearly 500 pages, making it the one of the largest statewide guidebooks in print.

About This Guidebook
This guide is full of topos, history, and route descriptions for areas like Haycock Mountain, a massive bouldering area just north of Philadelphia, dozens of trad and sport climbing areas like Boxcar Rocks and areas in Central and Eastern PA. The Hunter Rocks bouldering destination area near State College. All the bouldering areas and sport crags in Mocanaqua just outside the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area and a short drive from Philly. This guide is the only statewide guidebook for Pennsylvania and the only book that includes bouldering and climbing areas for PA."

Ice Climbing Pennsylvania

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Griz Guides has some free sample downloads from this book on their website. Covers the Narrows and many other areas.

"This is the first and only ice climbing guidebook for Pennsylvania. Rob Ginieczki and Griz Guides has created a detailed and thorough comprehensive book to highlight Pennsylvania’s steep and fun ice routes. This book covers over 180 ice and mixed routes throughout the state. Whether you live in Pittsburgh or the Poconos, this book has some excellent climbing in your neighborhood. This 280-page book features the Lehigh Valley, Pocono Plateau, North Central Mountain, and Laurel Highland regions. You can find detailed maps, action photos, accurate descriptions and grades for ice routes in Pennsylvania."

Rock 'n' Road: An Atlas of North American Rock Climbing Areas

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Rock 'n' Road: An Atlas of North American Rock Climbing Areas includes a chapter on Pennsylvania. It only gives the broadest notes on climbing areas - many of which have closed since it was published - but it gives curious climbers ideas about where to look - or avoid looking - for new routes.

Climb Pennsylvania (2007)

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Climb Pennsylvania, second edition, 2007. Looks like an overview of climbing areas in PA.

Rock Climbing New Jersey (2000)

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Not a Pennsylvania guidebook, but it covers some crags near the state line, including Ralph Stover State Park and Mount Minsi.