Cities with outdoor climbing in the world

nat han wrote:

Brisbane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_Point_Cliffs

I lived in Brisvegas for years, and have many fond memories of evening climbs under the floodlights at KP. I’m probably in the top 5-10 of climbers ranked by number of routes done there, so I’m a total choss apologist. However, let’s be real, no climber should choose to live in Brissy purely because KP is so accessible. It is an urban quarry, dodgy rock and chipping abound, and it absolutely bakes in the Qld sun all day past mid to late morning. It also has very few (<10) testpiece routes, and it regularly gets TR sessioned by the uni clubs. If we’re including it on this list, might as well say Auckland because of Stonefields: https://www.thecrag.com/en/climbing/new-zealand/auckland/area/879850311

Now, if Mt Eden Quarry would ever reopen, a semi-reasonable argument could be made for NZ’s big smoke. 

Seoul (not a ton of routes though): mountainproject.com/area/10…

Josh S wrote:

Seoul (not a ton of routes though): mountainproject.com/area/10…

Seoul is awesome! There are a lot more routes there than what is listed on MP: thecrag.com/climbing/south-…

dave custer wrote:

I think the "measure" of access should be "easy access by public transportation or bicycle on your lunch hour OR can drive to climbing on your lunch hour or after work--less than 30 minute drive during rush hour conditions." I suggest this because "within city limits" doesn't help me pick a place to live/visit. 

By this new measure: Boulder, Boston, Worcester, Grand Junction, Golden, Laramie, SLC, parts of Vegas, Honesdale, would open up.

Is Chamonix a city?

What Honesdale is this? The only one I know is not a city, and not very close to climbing 

Les Calanques, Marseille.

Athens. I haven’t been but am planning a trip this winter. The climbing right in the city looks pretty cool. 

Brevard NC is on the very small end of city, but Lyon France has a little climbing.  Grenoble France and Salzburg Austria probably do as well.

Manchester NH and IIRC Montreal Canada both do.

Sam Schwinghammer wrote:

Brevard NC is on the very small end of city, but Lyon France has a little climbing.  Grenoble France and Salzburg Austria probably do as well.

Manchester NH and IIRC Montreal Canada both do.

Very limited in Montreal, but some good short climbs right in Quebec City and longer ones in the outskirts.

Further west, Thunder Bay in western Ontario has some amazing climbing right in town.

If you're from Aldenville PA, then Honesdale IS the big city. The climbing IS within city limits. Easy day trips to the gunks and the Delaware Water Gap. 

If there's a separate thread where cities are rated on the ratio of in-city climbing to the cost of living, Honesdale will do pretty well. 

Rio (as mentioned above) is the only city I know that seems to qualify with Leslie H's criteria. Climbing areas (I believe within city limits) can be easily accessed by bus (and a short walk) from a hotel in Ipanema or Copacabana. Are you in the city or on a multipitch route in the jungle? Depends on which way you look. Feeling fit? Check out Wolfgang Gullich's "Southern Comfort". I had a blast there, back in the 90s. For climbing, go in winter (June-September). Barcelona is fun, but the climbing we did (e.g. in the tunnel on Montjuic) is not on natural rock, and can't compare with a 6 or 7 pitch climb up Pao de Acucar. On the other hand Balcarce is more than 10 times bigger than Honesdale, and although the roped climbing is nothing to write home about, we do have about 60 short routes (12 - 15 meters) from around 5.8 to 5.13 on good quality rock, and something like 800 established boulders (the bouldering is outstanding) all within walking distance from my house (and I believe within municipal limits). And there's much better roped climbing 20 kms away. Plus, I bet the cost of living is probably cheaper (or at least comparable to) Honesdale. In fact: Balcarce could be a destination area, if you're a hardcore fan of roof bouldering (most of the hard boulders are roofs) or even just a bouldering enthusiast who wants to try out some quality orthoquartzite in municipal limits, without the hassle of crowds. Unfortunately, today it's raining!

dave custer wrote:

If you're from Aldenville PA, then Honesdale IS the big city. The climbing IS within city limits. Easy day trips to the gunks and the Delaware Water Gap. 

If there's a separate thread where cities are rated on the ratio of in-city climbing to the cost of living, Honesdale will do pretty well. 

Gunks and Water Gap make sense. I wasn't sure if anyone was up there pulling choss on Irving Cliff, that's what I thought you meant at first :-)

Boulder, Colorado.  The genesis of this website.

Tim Bratten wrote:

Rio (as mentioned above) is the only city I know that seems to qualify with Leslie H's criteria. Climbing areas (I believe within city limits) can be easily accessed by bus (and a short walk) from a hotel in Ipanema or Copacabana. Are you in the city or on a multipitch route in the jungle? Depends on which way you look. Feeling fit? Check out Wolfgang Gullich's "Southern Comfort". I had a blast there, back in the 90s. For climbing, go in winter (June-September). Barcelona is fun, but the climbing we did (e.g. in the tunnel on Montjuic) is not on natural rock, and can't compare with a 6 or 7 pitch climb up Pao de Acucar. On the other hand Balcarce is more than 10 times bigger than Honesdale, and although the roped climbing is nothing to write home about, we do have about 60 short routes (12 - 15 meters) from around 5.8 to 5.13 on good quality rock, and something like 800 established boulders (the bouldering is outstanding) all within walking distance from my house (and I believe within municipal limits). And there's much better roped climbing 20 kms away. Plus, I bet the cost of living is probably cheaper (or at least comparable to) Honesdale. In fact: Balcarce could be a destination area, if you're a hardcore fan of roof bouldering (most of the hard boulders are roofs) or even just a bouldering enthusiast who wants to try out some quality orthoquartzite in municipal limits, without the hassle of crowds. Unfortunately, today it's raining!

I disagree that Rio is the only city that meets those criteria. Several of the ones mentioned above do as well, for example; Palermo, Seoul, Capetown. I believe that both Boulder and Colorado Springs meet them as well. Undoubtedly others. I believe that both Stockholm and Mexico City have several climbing areas, though smaller, within their city limits.

Jay Eggleston wrote:

Boulder, Colorado.  The genesis of this website.

It depends how literally you interpret "city limits". The Flatirons are right on the edge of town, and the land is owned by Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks, but technically they're outside city limits.

Spokane, WA. 

Billings, MT.

Jason Mills wrote:

Spokane, WA. 

What climbing is there?

Stockholm, SE has multiple sport crags within the city, and even ice climbing as well. Like, in the midst of the city center, not just on the outskirts. 

Guadalajara, Mexico abuts a deep river gorge with climbing 

San Juan PR

Tucson, AZ

Las Angeles/San Bernardino, CA

Fort Collins, CO (though the climbing is meh near the city)

really gotta define “major” city though. I assume must be an airport? First three work in that case. Tucson is probably the best mix of close-to-city climbing while having typical US city amenities, but San Juan is my favorite of the three

Oslo has lots of crags within 30min walk of subway stations. The cliffs themselves are technically outside city limits, but are right on the border of the city.