Alabama

Brad Killough on Oyster 5.10 a

Description 

It may not be the first place you think of as a climbing destination, but Alabama has some excellent crags to choose from, most within a two-hour drive of Atlanta or Birmingham.

Climbing in Alabama is mostly sandstone. The Cumberland Plateau, which hosts the great sandstone cliffs of Tennessee, extends into northern Alabama. Areas like Jamestown are similar to T-Wall and Sunset in Chattanooga, though the cliffs are not as tall. Other areas like Sand Rock, by contrast, tend toward sandstone with a fair amount of conglomerate mixed in.

For trad climbers, Jamestown is the top destination, with numerous excellent lines. Areas like Sand Rock and Griffin Falls have a mix of sport and trad, while Palisades Park is a great place for setting up easy to moderate topropes. Boulderers can enjoy the great problems of Horse Pens 40 and Moss Rock Preserve.

Because many of Alabama's destinations are on private land, access has been a perennial problem. While there are some areas that have been closed with little hope of ever reopening, Jamestown is a special success story. In 2005, the Southeastern Climbers Coalition purchased the land that includes the Jamestown cliffline, reopening the area to legal climbing for the first time in 12 years. With luck, other off-limits areas can be reopened with similar tactics.

Getting There 

See individual climbing areas for specific directions.

The Classics

Featured Route For Alabama

Cinnamon Girl 5.10  AL : Jamestown : Winter Wall

The route starts in a crack behind the free standing pillar on the left end of the Winter Wall. Follow an arching/thinning crack, (that parallels The Arch - but slightly higher) to the same shared anchors....[more]   Browse More Classics in AL

Photos of Alabama Slideshow

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Brad Killough, doing what he does at most comps. J...	Denmark Blount maintains intense focus on his foot...	Liz redpointing The Wasp, V3, Horse Pens 40.
Butter on Bread, V1, HP40	High Life, V5, HP40	Katrenis on Millipede, HP40
SWIRL, HP 40	T.W. on DEAD RECKONING, 5.10a	T.W. on DEAD RECKONING, 5.10a
hope that gri gri checks out	The crew at Sand Rock!	Nice trad, past Fiath.
Gene Smith working on the FA of Chandler Roof