Climbing Near Vincent, Alabama

This crag is a blank slate! A group of five boulders in the city of Trussville's sports complex. This area - owned by Trussville - was completed in late 2017 and was worked on by the Access Fund and the Southeastern Climbers Coalition. Difficulty of routes and possible problems vary from beginner to advanced. All boulders, which are relatively close together and in a forested part of the sports complex, have easy access. The boulders do fall along a disc golf course, so be advised of frisbees and other groups. Brushes are good to have to brush off dirt and moss since the crag is not super well established. The boulder field is located just northeast of Birmingham off of I-59 in the Trussville Sports Complex (easily found on Google/Apple maps). Boulders are specifically found on the western side of Riverbend Road when driving into the sports complex, between the baseball fields and the tennis courts and fairly close to the road. Parking is available throughout the facility, but easy approaches can be made from the parking lot just north of the group of five baseball fields (this is also where the Carter Memorial Disc Golf Course starts). When facing north, there is a small trail that leads from the north-eastern most corner of the lot and opens to a disc golf hole. Boulders should be visible shortly after stepping into the woods. If you are unable to find this trail (it is small and not well marked) you can enter at the first hole of the disc golf course and follow the paved trail along the Cahaba River. After about 2-3 minutes, the boulders will be about 1/10 of a mile up on the hill to your right.

From the Southeastern Climber's Coalition website:The Shades Crest Boulder Fields, on the outskirts of Birmingham, Alabama, has long been a threatened area. Late in 2001 the land that the boulders were on were up for zoning changes by the city council of Hoover, Alabama for development purposes. Early in 2002 Lee Means, accompanied by other local climbers and a local conservation group got together and ultimately saved the small outcrop of sandstone boulders. Thanks to the efforts of all those involved, the City of Hoover designated the area the Moss Rock Trail Preserve, thus saving the land from the encroaching housing developments.Get past the mild graffiti and trash from the local high school students and this spot offers some of the best bouldering in the state...see also, HP40...and is amongst the prime spots in all of the SE in some folks opinion.For a public PDF guide to bouldering at the preserve, click hereFor a nice trail guide, follow this link ​here​​​PRESERVE RULES:1. No person shall deposit any trash or debris within the Preserve except in trash receptacles provided thereof.2. It shall be unlawful for any person to destroy, deface, injure, remove or disturb any native or domesticated plant, tree, shrub or flower within the Preserve.3. No vehicles shall be parked in any areas except those areas designated for parking and only during hours that the Preserve is open.4. No bicycles; skateboards; or motorized vehicles shall be allowed on walking trails or in any area of the Preserve, except on roadways and parking areas. All public safety and emergency vehicles are exempt from this section.5. No person shall possess or consume alcoholic beverages within the limits of the Preserve.6. No person shall be on the Preserve premises except during posted times of sunrise to sunset.7. No person shall possess or carry any weapons, fireworks, firearms or explosive devices within the Preserve.8. No person shall camp upon any of the Preserve facilities.9. It shall be unlawful of any person to gather firewood, build a campfire or burn any material within the Preserve.10. Any pets brought within the Preserve shall be caged or on a leash not longer than 6 feet and under personal control at all times.11. It shall be unlawful of any person to write, paint or print any letters, figures, signs, devices, pictures or any type of graffiti on any natural or man made matter within the Preserve.12. No person shall act in a loud or unruly manner or exhibit behavior deemed unfit for public areas.13. It shall be unlawful of any person to possess or use any containers which are subject to break, shatter, fracture or become fragmented, including but not limited to glass. DIRECTIONS FROM I-459 VIA HWY 150 EXIT: Take exit #10 (Hwy 150). Turn east towards downtown Hoover. Turn left on Stadium Trace Pkwy. Stay straight on Stadium Trace Pkwy and it will eventually become Sulphur Springs Rd. Stay straight on Sulphur Springs Rd for approximately 2 miles to intersection with Preserve Pkwy. This road essentially bisects Moss Rock Preserve and leads to current parking for the boulder field. DIRECTIONS FROM I-459 VIA HWY 31 (GALLERIA) EXIT TO NEW SIMMONS MIDDLE SCHOOL PARKING: Take exit #13 (Hwy 31) and head north towards Vestavia. Turn left on Patton Chapel Rd. Stay on Patton Chapel for approximately 3 miles to 1st traffic light. At this light, Patton Chapel Rd. becomes Chapel Rd. Drive straight through traffic light and look for Gwin Elementary School on your right and new parking lot directly across Chapel Rd. Turn left into this parking lot, then left again towards the SE side of the property. Parking is obvious as is the short trail into the woods.There is a MRP Rules sign denoting the trail head. Additionally, check DRTopo or the Dixie Cragger's Atlas.

This is the front "half" of MRP--lot's of classics! First boulders you see when you come in from the parking lot that runs along the road.