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101 areas in the US to climb at before you die

Tristan Higbee · · Pocatello, ID · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 2,970

List updated.

clay meier · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 350

Ruth gorge alaska

lucander · · Stone Ridge, NY · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 260

There is no way those Massachusetts crags are even in the top 300 areas of the U.S. or should be mentioned on the same page as the other areas compiled. I lived 10 minutes from those crags and loved it, but the (lack of) climbing is why I left.

If we're going for scrabbly C and D level east coast cliffs east let's add Ragged Mountain, Chatfield Hollow, Rose Ledge, Cathole Pass, Bolton, Devil's Den, Mount Oscar, and Sunbowl.

Wiled Horse · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2002 · Points: 3,669
Nick Wilder wrote:Here's a semi-scientific answer: mountainproject.com/scripts… I never finished or made this feature live on the site, but it's kind of fun to look at.
excellent map!
Wiled Horse · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2002 · Points: 3,669
Nick Wilder wrote:Here's a semi-scientific answer: mountainproject.com/scripts… I never finished or made this feature live on the site, but it's kind of fun to look at.
excellent map!
cnadel · · San Francisco, CA · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 5

Should add Mt Rushmore National Monument.
Also not the most inspiring climbing (or so I thought at least) but Pinnacles National Monument in central CA may be worthy of a 'go before you die' label, even if only for the setting.

CraigS. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 10

You got Foster Falls, Stone Fort, and Deep Creek under KY when they should be under TN.

Not sure that Sunset and T-Wall can be lumped together. They're on two different mountains and opposite sides of the river. Kind of hard to lump them together.

DavisMeschke Guillotine · · Pinedale, WY · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 225

Georgia

Tallulah Gorge (4 classic multi-pitch routes - Digital Delight, Mescaline Daydream, Primitive Paradox, Flying Frog)

Alabama

Sandrock

Tristan Higbee · · Pocatello, ID · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 2,970

Updated the list. It's now at 97 areas.

Rob Dillon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 760

NC: I'd recommend Whitesides over Laurel. And Stone? Maybe just to say you've been there.

GA: Tallulah Gorge is not that amazing. If it was in another state with more climbing it would def. be third-tier. Rock Town is fairly idyllc, though.

CO: The Turkey Rocks might be a better specific recco than 'South Platte.' Penitente isn't my favorite place ever but it's a really neat and unique setting and should make the list. Shelf…meh. Primary draws are convenience and seasonality…rock quality is a distant 3rd.

AZ Hard to overlook the Forks. And that Waterfall joint looks really cool.

CA. I've never been to Stoney Point, but it sure doesn't look that great compared to any number of other California areas. Just exactly how palpable is the sense of history one gets from bouldering here? Cuz that seems to sum up the draw, if you don't already live in L.A.

NM City is not something I'd call a must-visit before you die.

TN: Sunset and the T-Wall have pretty different feels to them. If I had to tell a visiting Martian to pick one it would no question be the T-Wall. Sunset is more of a warm-weather Plan B.

UT: The Fishers might just be their own thing. please don't tell anyone else that getting their tintype took atop Ancient Art is any more mandatory than it already appears.

WV: Nelson Rocks? Really?

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
Austin Baird wrote:Add Ibex and the Jungle to Utah.
What about Saint George area, particularly Utah Hills limestone? Cathedral. Wailing Wall, etc.
david goldstein · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 2,541

Paradise Forks in AZ should make the list.

Stony Point, where I started climbed, is a ghetto crap heap and should not be on the list.

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
Rob Dillon wrote: WV: Nelson Rocks? Really?
Agreed; cross that one off the list, it is mostly just a subordinate satellite of Seneca Rocks. Not that there isn't nice climbing there, but I don't think it belongs on this sort of list.
JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115

The obvious game to play now is to count how many of these areas you've climbed at. Based on the current (incomplete) list, my tally is 32 areas, plus one "contender". I'm sure that there are some others on here that have been to a much larger number than that.

Steve Jones · · Fayetteville WV, · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 105

42 of 97 for me. Look forward to experiencing a few more.

I would seriously consider dropping some of the lesser areas off your list, like Nelson Rocks in WV, maybe even Old Rag in VA. Just because an area is relatively close to a population center and those people enjoy it, doesn't make it bucket list worthy.

Whitesides in NC is pretty intense and unique - overhanging multi-pitch. The last time I was at Stone Mtn, NC it was covered in lichen.

Sunset Park, TN has a lot of history, a la' the civil war. The Obed in TN, could be Obed/Clear Creek.

Adding San Rafael Swell, UT is a swell idea.

Appreciate you doing this - How about an international list next?

Rob Dillon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 760

OK…57. Including a few parenthetical contenders.

58 if you count Rat Rock, the Stoney Point of NYC?

Josh Gregg · · Bridgewater, VT · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 0

There's no decent climbing in VT anywhere. None.

Eric Wydeven · · austin, tx · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 0

Let's not leave out New Mexico's Organ Mountains. The sense of adventure and solitude is alive and well in the Organs.

GhaMby Eagan · · Heaven · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 385

ALABAMA 
Contenders: Horse Pens 40 

ARIZONA 
3. Cochise Stronghold 

CALIFORNIA 
1. Yosemite Valley 
2. Tuolumne Meadows 
3. Joshua Tree 
4. Bishop bouldering (Buttermilks, etc.) 
5. High Sierra rock routes, Does Cardinal Pinnacle count???
7. Lovers Leap 
12. Owens River Gorge 

COLORADO 
4. Flatirons 

IDAHO 
2. City of Rocks 

MONTANA 
1. Gallatin Canyon 

NEVADA 
1. Red Rock 
2. Mt. Charlston 

NEW MEXICO-I climbed at Sitting Bull Falls and LOVED IT as well as Soccoro, which I did not love

OKLAHOMA 
1. Wichita Wildlife Refuge -Bouldered in my tennie shoes when checking it out

OREGON 
1. Smith Rock 
2. Trout Creek 

SOUTH DAKOTA 
2. Spearfish Canyon 

TENNESSEE 
3. Foster Falls 

TEXAS 
1. Hueco Tanks 

UTAH 
1. Zion National Park 
2. Joe’s Valley 
3. Maple Canyon 
4. Indian Creek 
8. Little Cottonwood Canyon 
Also climbed at many other amazing spots like Logan Canyon, American Fork Canyon, Uintas, Big Cottonwood Canyon, St. George Area (definitely SHOULD be on list)

WASHINGTON 
4. Leavenworth 
I think Beacon Rock is pretty rad, for Washington

WYOMING 
1. Devil’s Tower 
2. Wind Rivers is The Cirque of The Towers to most people
3. Grand Teton National Park-Bouldered at Jenny Lake on John Gills old, Sandbagged, Problems
5. Wild Iris Canyon 
6. Sinks Canyon 
7. Ten Sleep Canyon 

So I've climbed at 32 of the places you have numbered, thankfully some amazing places are not on your list.

Josh Gregg · · Bridgewater, VT · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 0
D.Buffum wrote: Oh boo hoo. You live in one of the most beautiful states in the nation. Quit yer bellyachin'.
No bellyachin here, just wanted to make sure people don't start coming here looking for climbing... :)
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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