Dare To Climb These 12 Outstanding Rocks In The USA In 2021
The USA has some of the highest numbers of rock climbers globally, which is a fact. A plethora of natural climbing spots in the country has made it easy for the climbers to pick any and go on an adventure. Let us list out the 12 best places for rock climbing in the USA in 2021.
- Yosemite National Park
People from around the world have Yosemite National Park on their bucket list. The destination has been famous for its diverse natural habitat. It has been a hot spot for bouldering and slacklining and even sleeping on Big Walls kind of experience. The El Capitan is every sports climber’s dream for climbing. Even the Half Dome rising to an elevation of 1,360 feet is sure to give you the highs!
- Shawangunk Ridge
The Shawangunk Ridge or The Gunks is a ridge located in the state of New York. It has become famous for the presence of several physical terrains. There are ice caves, lakes, and rocky ridges, making the climbing especially more. The Mohonk Preserve on this Trail has over 1000 routes and even 5 linear cliff faces for the climbers to sharpen their bouldering skills.
- Independence Pass
The alpine lined routes in Colorado with rugged crags and winding roads make it a top choice. Sports climbers prefer the Ptarmigan Creek, and the Grotto Wall appeals to the trad climbers. In short, a scenic climbing route awaits you. If you seek nothing less than the 5.7 routes, this Pass is one of the first rappel-bolted sport routes. In winter, the roads are closed from October to May.
- Shenandoah National Park
Located in Virginia and as a part of the Appalachian Mountains, the top spots here are great for top-roping, bouldering as well as trad. The area has several great areas like Old Rag and Bent Tree Area. There are varying difficulty grades to opt for, which makes the destination a great choice.
- Red River Gorge
If you are looking for the fascinating 5.6 to the 5.8 graded routes, the Red River Gorge in Slade, Kentucky, is fine. There is a little bit of something for every person from the basic ones to the advanced levels. Simply put, anyone with a desire to practice or experience climbing and those loving to spend time outdoors can opt for this.
- Moab
Utah has wowed people worldwide through the years with its sandstone rock formations jutting out of the earth. These make Moab a great destination. It is great for people from the basic grade to the advanced grade to climb up. The Arches National Park’s Bullwinkle options have been drawing people for the canyoneering activities it offers. The red rocks are truly spellbinding for the climbers across all grades. It is even ideal if you aim to climb with your kids.
- Smith Rock State Park
Oregon’s pride is this rocky terrain in the volcanic range where you can go for sport climbing. The terrain holds immense respect for those climbers who seek anything on the basalt landscape. There are over 2000 routes from a basic level to 5.14 grades. There are 3+ star rated routes here to ascend, which draws the climbers who seek some serious ascending time. Sport climbing is great, and hence, the climbers have plenty of options to try as they also get to see a fascinating view of the Crooked River, enhancing the beauty manifold.
- Devil’s Tower
Wyoming is proud of this destination, and it’s easy to identify the rock formation of the Devil’s Tower. It looks like a fortress with vertical lines running down. There are several columns, all making the ascent seem wonderful besides being Instagrammable. There are easy routes to practice at about 5.6 in Durrance. The hand cracks come for the 5.9 grades, and the finger cracks come at 5.10. The uniformly ridged wall makes for a remarkable ascent.
- Joshua Tree National Park
Located in Southern California, this National Park draws scores of climbers thanks to its desert landscape. The crags and cracks provide the mountaineers the thrill they need while also presenting them with challenges. The popular routes include Dappled Mare presenting a problem at four pitches to a 5.8-grade level. The Leave it to Beaver has a single pitch of 5.12a grade. The view from the top is breathtaking, literally!
- Leavenworth
Washington’s pride, the rather small climbing spot, is definitely on the wish-list of many visiting this part of the USA. The climbers love to ascend this and practice their bouldering skills here. There are different grades for bouldering from V2 to V4+.
- Red Rock
A 5.7 Heaven is how the regular climbers call it, and this makes the Red Rock a gem! There are several crags to take care of here. The Calico Hills provide the best sandstone climbing rocks and overhanging cliffs. This provides for many spots to rest and take short breaks while climbing. Trad climbers, sporty and bouldering climbers, will all find great comfort in ascending the same.
- Acadia National Park
If you seek to relish the panoramic views from the top, this Acadia National Park is the best. The cliffs can be great for trad climbing as well as for aided climbing. The waves at the foot of the hills make for a superb ascent. The Gear Head or the Otter Cliffs make draw scores of climbers every year.
Now that you have a list of the best spots in hand, it is time for you to pack the best of shoes and harnesses. The Evolv Nexxo is high on sensitivity and gives you the best performance on edging. Talking of the harness, we love the Mammut Ophir 3 as the best option if you aim to scale the highest or the most difficult cliffs. If you are considering an upgrade of this climbing gear, read The Climbing Gear reviews. The site offers a decent range of reviews on products that you can buy for yourself. All of these shall help in taking your outdoor climbing dream one notch up.
