Cities with outdoor climbing in the world

• Prague, Czech Republic
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Innsbruck, Austria

David A wrote:

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. 

I live in Stockholm, this is correct. There's also a few decent trad crags within the city and lots more within a 30-45 min drive or subway/bus/train. Good quality rock, nothing taller than around 150 feet though..

Ry C wrote:

Portland, Oregon has Broughton, Madrone, Rocky Butte, and Carver inside city limits. You can get there with public transportation or depending on where you live, you can bike there. Makes it super easy for an after/before work session.

Short drive away (30-40min) in the Gorge are Ozone, Farside, and Beacon. 

Alan Rubin wrote:

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.

Hi Alan: I never said Rio was the only city that meets those criteria, I said it was the only city I know that meets that criteria. And actually I was wrong, because I know Portland (I went to Rocky Butte for a day) and I suppose that would count But thanks for reading my post carefully before disagreeing with me!

Leslie H wrote:

What climbing is there?

Spokane has Minnehaha (where I started climbing}, Dishman (I remember some of the first climbs there), Deep Creek, Rocks of Sharon. Although technically not within city limits (I looked it up for this thread), these areas are in the metropolitan limits. In fact those busy little Spokanites have been putting up new roues all over the place and there are literally hundreds of climbs in the Mountain Project data base

Major to me means having an airport( preferably international) as well as culture like theater  and/or sports.

I guess cities over 200k .

I appreciate the responses since it helped me plan my next climbing trip ( to Rio)

Keeping a list with Capetown on it for sure!!

Leslie mentioned Hong Kong: 1,600+ routes not counting bouldering.  Many of which are readily accessible on public transit.  I could see multiple crags from my office, and on occasion my secretary was able to spot me on a multipitch route.  I developed a new sport crag a few years back, and literally millions of people lived right below.

Kingston, Jamaica - https://www.mountainproject.com/area/121878657/cane-river-falls

About a 30 minute drive from the heart of the city. I'm actively bolting new routes at this crag. 

A couple others from Australasia I forgot to mention earlier.

Townsville, QLD: https://www.thecrag.com/climbing/australia/townsville/area/11818021

Hobart, TAS: https://www.thecrag.com/climbing/australia/mount-wellington

Both aren’t major cities, but they do hit the 200,000 population mark mentioned earlier.

Also, as I mentioned before, many of the major crags here in Christchurch are accessible by public transit and/or bike from the city centre, and all are within city limits. 

Washington, DC has outdoor climbing within 30 min drive of downtown at Carderock, MD and 40 min to Great Falls, VA. It is short, slippery, and usually top-roped. But it is outdoor climbing.

I would not say: come to DC for the rock climbing. But there are a lot of other great reasons to visit DC, and if you want to get some outdoor climbing in while you’re here, it’s possible.

Julian J wrote:

Kingston, Jamaica - https://www.mountainproject.com/area/121878657/cane-river-falls

About a 30 minute drive from the heart of the city. I'm actively bolting new routes at this crag. 

dudeeee those pockets!!!

Andrew Gram wrote:

Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro

Having just visited Rio I would say it is a poor choice for a rock climbing destination.  The bolts are sketch and the routes I did were 2 star at the most. The general vibe of the city is unsafe especially  for solor female travelers. I wanted it to be like Hong Kong..and while the humidity was similar it missed the mark big time. 

I have heard Cape Town is also unsafe; normally I would discount these rumors but Rio really was unsafe leaving me to believe Cape Town might not be a good choice.

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!

Tim I got mugged at gunpoint in daylight outside of Copa. Sadly Rio is not safe for a female solo traveler. We found access to be a PITA at times and simple at others. Not worth my life to climb there again though. True shit can happen anywhere  but the general unchill vibe is worth warning other female climbers about! 

The parts of Cape Town that tourists and climbers will be in are reasonably safe, though you can certainly find trouble if you are looking for it.  If Cape Town is too dangerous, you don't have many options outside of the US/Canada, Europe, Australia/NZ, and parts of southeast asia.

Kansas City. Yes, really. 

Mitch L wrote:

Mexico City. escuelita (unam campus), remedios, ehecatl, los dinamos. Maybe none world class but much city, much accessible. Los Dinamos is edge of the city but the best of them and has ongoing route development.

Don't forget Copilco--right at the same-named subway stop.  San Pancho exists just another subway stop or so along. Current access issues unknown.  I could ride my bike to both Copilco and Los Dinamos from my house.  Dinamos was out of the city at that time, but there were buses to as far as Contreras, at the foot of the Coconetla (third Dynamo).

MattB wrote:

Guadalajara, Mexico abuts a deep river gorge with climbing 

Can you provide more information about this area? Last time I visited I couldn't find info on any nearby climbing that looked worth doing.

La Paz Bolivia 

One can mini-bus it out to Valle de Aranjuez for about 100 sport routes. There’s also mini-bus access to several small villages/trailheads to get into the high Andes. 

P Degner wrote:

Kansas City. Yes, really. 

Cliff drive! Good ole crag! 

Andrew Gram wrote:

If Cape Town is too dangerous, you don't have many options outside of the US/Canada, Europe, Australia/NZ, and parts of southeast asia.

And China, Japan and most likely South Korea but not familiar with this country as I've never been there.

I think Taiwan has a crag somewhere in Taipei. I have been there and saw an outdoor climbing wall in the metro area but it was part of a non-climbing trip, so can't provide more details.