Climbing
Sitting on the foothills of the Appalachians, Alabama offers a varying degree of climbing destinations, from small peaks to challenging bouldering problems to indoor ventures. Alabama’s diverse landscapes offer endless opportunities for all skill levels to explore new terrain and find the perfect adventure on the rocks.
Seasonality: Year-round
Optimal Skill Level: Beginner to Expert
Photo Location: Cherokee Rock
Scale the Heights
Bouldering
Take on Alabama crags without ropes or harnesses. With many options and locations for these short and intense climbs, our state provides numerous destinations for solving your next bouldering problem.
Start climbing with these Alabama bouldering destinations.
Moss Rock Preserve
Hoover, AL
Venture out to one of Alabama’s most frequented boulder sites. This crop of sandstone boulders lies within greater Birmingham and offers various technical formations and climbing routes. Whatever your skill level, Moss Rock can be both fun and challenging.
Horse Pens 40
St. Claire County, AL
Privately owned and operated in North Alabama, this historic park on Chandler Mountain is well known across the state and the nation. Horse Pens 40 boasts nearly 300 rock formations to climb year-round.
Hospital Boulders
Gadsden, AL
Just north of Gadsden, Hospital Boulders offers more than 200 sandstone boulder problems on Lookout Mountain. The Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) owns the Hospital Boulders. Entering the area requires a gate code, which is accessible through the SCC website. Reaching the boulders requires a short hike.
Sand Rock Climbing
Leesburg, AL
This Leesburg climbing destination is popular for both in-state and out-of-state climbers. With many different bouldering problems for climbers with a variety of skill levels, Sand Rock makes for a great place for beginners and experts to get some time on the rocks.
Hurricane Creek Park
Tuscaloosa, AL
Located in Tuscaloosa not far from The University of Alabama’s campus, Hurricane Creek Park offers a variety of cliffs and standing boulders to climb. Hurricane Creek Park is also a great location to hike, swim and spend time outdoors.
Learn the Ropes
Rope Climbing
Alabama’s diverse geologic makeup and plentiful rock formations create perfect destinations for your next climb. From sport climbing to trad climbing to top roping, you can find your next crag to conquer right here in our beautiful state.
Go where you’ve never gone before with these Alabama rope climbing spots.
Cherokee Bluffs
Dadeville, AL
Cherokee Bluffs features the only sport climbing destination in Central Alabama. Although developers continue to add routes, climbers can choose options based on skill level, with options for beginners and experts alike. Reaching the cliffs requires a short hike.
Little River Canyon National Preserve
Fort Payne, AL
With one of the more difficult climbs in the South, the sandstone cliffs of Little River Canyon National Preserve have route options for all skill levels. Climbers must bring their own climbing equipment and can climb any of the cliffs. However, climbers should not add or remove bolts.
Cherokee Rock Village
Leesburg, AL
Home to many large sandstone boulders, Cherokee Rock Village welcomes both the beginner and the experienced. Enjoy over 200 top rope routes, traditional climbing, sport climbing and bouldering problems, all at one location.
Palisades Park
Oneonta, AL
Perfect for all skill levels, Palisades Park serves the Birmingham area with a laid-back climbing destination. The park has a wide spectrum of routes, from easy to difficult, encouraging climbers of all types and skill levels to try their hand at these crags.
Jamestown Climbing
Jamestown, AL
Managed by the Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC), this Northeast Alabama climbing spot has one of the more popular sandstone cliffs in the area. Jamestown features 1,550 linear feet of cliff, ready for you to explore. Be sure to review the SCC’s rules on accessing and using this climbing spot before heading out.
Get Climbing
Indoor Climbing
Rain or shine, find the best place to climb at one of our state’s indoor climbing facilities. With opportunities for classes, community building, youth activities, clinics and more, indoor climbing has quickly become a great activity for people of all ages and skill levels.
Explore Alabama’s indoor climbing opportunities.
High Point Climbing and Fitness
Birmingham and Huntsville, AL
One of the largest climbing gyms in the state of Alabama has over 25,000 square feet of world-class indoor rock climbing opportunities. With two locations in Huntsville and one in Birmingham, High Point Climbing makes for a great place to gain confidence climbing while having a good time.
Crux Climbing, LLC
Northport, AL
The first of its kind for the West Alabama climbing community, the Crux Climbing gym near Tuscaloosa offers options for all stages of climbers, including training for beginners and exciting challenges for experts. This growing location also provides opportunities for climbers in the region to connect, socialize and grow together.
Gadrock
Gadsden, AL
This popular Gadsden indoor climbing spot provides many options to train and learn the ropes of climbing. With opportunities to rope climb and boulder indoors, Gadrock invites everyone to join a community of climbers and reach new heights.
Birmingham Boulders
Birmingham, AL
The heart of the Birmingham climbing community finds itself in a climbing gym near Red Mountain. Birmingham Boulders offers opportunities for climbing, forging and training. Climbers of all skill levels are welcome to join this bustling community of climbers.
As you climb, follow leave no trace principles and help keep Alabama beautiful.
Explore Alabama’s Natural Resources
Alabama’s landscape offers many opportunities to climb. Find the best places, all on one map.
- Discover one of the South’s most famous bouldering sites, Horse Pens 40, in North Alabama.
- Discover the rocky terrain on Lookout Mountain in Northeast Alabama.
- Take a trip to one of Alabama’s four national forests, occupying nearly 668,000 acres of public land.
- Climb Alabama’s many sandstone formations in Gadsden.
Activities
Find yourself in one of Alabama’s outdoor activities. Whether relaxing on white sandy beaches or hiking up a mountainside, discover your next adventure in Alabama.
