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Elevation: 492 ft 150 m
GPS: 40.13189, -76.69516
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 169,249 total · 1,079/month
Shared By: Seth Derr on Dec 30, 2011 · Updates
Admins: Justin Johnsen, SCPC, SWPACC, EPAC
Warning Access Issue: Private Property. DetailsDrop down

GOVERNOR STABLE BOULDERS Suggest change

Governor Stable is Access Sensitive.

Go to 
www.scpclimbers.org for access information.

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GS RULES

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW AND FOLLOW THESE 3 STEPS:

1. READ THE RULES

2. SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST 

3. DONATE TO SCPC

- Due to our fundraising efforts and community support, climbing access is OPEN for 2024. Governor Stable is OPEN for climbing from December 16th, 2023 to July 31th, 2024 only.

- Everyone visiting Governor Stable must be signed up for the South Central Pennsylvania Climbers MAILING LIST. SCPC must be able to contact the climbing community in the event of an access issue or change. Sign up for this mailing list on our website.

- DRIVE SLOWLY on Governor Stable Road. Park in the Conoy Township parking lot near the pavilion. This is the only parking for GS and the lot is only open from dawn until dusk. Once you are parked, keep a low profile at the parking lot. Walk down the road staying to one side, say hello to neighbors, and take a right onto the planks leading to our kiosk.

- NO DOGS or other animals are permitted at Governor Stable. This is a request by the landowners and we ask that you please respect this request. Please help remind our community of this rule as well.

- CLIMB AT YOUR OWN RISK! Protect yourself with pads and spotters, and use good judgement while out enjoying the boulders.

- The Slabs and Circuit Area are owned by a different landowner and they are closed until further notice. Do NOT go beyond the Pyramid Boulder. SCPC continues to work on opening this section of the boulders, but the other landowners are currently not interested.

- “Leave No Trace” principles and “The Climber’s Pact” by the Access Fund must be followed at all times while at Governor Stable.

- Alcohol is prohibited.

- Keep your volume to a reasonable level. There are neighbors very close by and we want to keep a good relationship with the community.

- Climbing is only allowed from dawn until dusk. NO night climbing. This is due to the township park being closed at dusk. 

- Please turn your vehicle headlights OFF while parked in the parking lot to prevent shining lights into the neighbors homes. Keep a low profile at the parking lot, if we risk losing this parking, GS would have no parking to access the boulders.

- No native rock, flora, or fauna may be removed from Governor Stable at any time.

- Camping is not permitted. The closest camping is at the Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA located 2.5 miles away.

- As a climber accessing Governor Stable, it is your duty to monitor the Governor Stable boulder field and help uphold these access rules. This is our boulder field, we need to protect it.

- From time to time, special events or area clean ups may restrict access to Governor Stable during the access season. All closures will be announced on the South Central Pennsylvania Climbers media sites.

- If at any time you are found in violation of any of the access rules, access to Governor Stable may be revoked.

- Check the SCPC websiteFacebook, and Instagram accounts for most recent information.

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Governor Stable has a long 25 year history of access issues. It is located on private property and managed by a non-profit volunteer powered organization known as the SCPC (South Central Pennsylvania Climbers). It is our responsibility as a community to keep a great relationship with the landowners, neighbors, and Conoy Township if we want to continue to access this special place. There is usually a fundraiser event on the 3rd weekend of each December. This event is designed to raise the funds necessary to pay for the lease and insurance to open GS each year.

GS is the most concentrated of our PA Diabase areas. The rock is similar to Mount Gretna and Haycock. GS is in a small hollow and is mostly South facing which makes it a great place to visit on colder days. It's protected from the wind and if it's a sunny day, the boulder field will be about 10-15 degrees warmer than anywhere else. The boulders are of high quality and the lines are very close together which makes for a lot climbing in one day. There are a fair amount of blocks with flat landings, but as with all bouldering, it's always great to have as many pads as possible. With the help of trail days and climbers helping to keep brush back, the climbing at GS can still be quite good into the late Spring. Summer can be challenging with warmer temps, but with the longer days, conditions will be better in early am and late pm. Diabase should only be climbed with squeaky clean shoes, to prevent polish. Enjoy the boulders GS and be grateful for each day that the landowners are opening their land to us.

Currently, the 2nd Edition Governor Stable Bouldering Guide is sold out. There is a 3rd Edition print guide in the works and SCPC will let you know where to get it upon being available. There is also a GS App with Gunks Apps. Part of the proceeds of all these guidebooks goes to helping to preserve GS.

EMERGENCY Information: Use good judgement and stay safe, but if you need it, the closest Urgent Care is Lancaster General Health Urgent Care Elizabethtown–Norlanco. The closest hospitals are Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Emergency Room, Lancaster General Hospital Emergency Room, and WellSpan York Hospital Emergency Department.

Access Sensitive (ALWAYS)

Suggest change

SCPC works hard to maintain a good relationship with the landowners as well as raise the funds necessary annually to pay the lease and insurance. Go to www.scpclimbers.org for more info on GS and other central PA climbing areas.

Bat Conservation | How You Can Help

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See a Bat on a Route, Give Us a Shout! 

Hey climbers, one of our SCPC members is working with Rob Schorr at Colorado State to help him spread the word about his bat research. Here’s a message from him about this important work and how, we as climbers, can help.

"Climbers for Bat Conservation is working with climbers to understand bat ecology and why bats choose certain cracks and flakes. We’re a collaboration between climbers, bat biologists, and land managers to understand where bats roost and where large populations may reside. We are interested in finding bats because of a new disease called white-nose syndrome (whitenosesyndrome.org) which has killed millions of bats in North America. This collaboration has identified bat roosts throughout the U.S., and as far away as Norway and Bulgaria. CBC was developed by biologists who climb and they are advocates for climbing access and bat conservation.

So, if you see bats while climbing, please let us know by emailing us at climbersforbats@colostate.edu, or visiting our website to learn more. climbersforbats.colostate.edu."

Thank You!
Rob Schorr

Zoologist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program (warnercnr.colostate.edu/rschorr/)
Director, Climbers for Bat Conservation
Robert.schorr@colostate.edu

156 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

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Classic Climbing Routes at Governor Stable

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V0 4
 36
Private Slabby
Boulder
V0 4
 48
The Scoop
Boulder
V1 5
 63
The Pyramid
Boulder
V3-4 6A+
 46
Balarete
Boulder
V4 6B
 4
Apex
Boulder
V4 6B
 42
Yeast
Boulder
V4 6B
 30
Breadloaf Arete
Boulder
V5 6C
 27
Moby's Dick
Boulder
V5 6C
 35
Juggernaut
Boulder
V5 6C
 4
Low Ride
Boulder
V5 6C
 37
Cobra
Boulder
V6- 7A
 6
Cave Wave
Boulder
V6 7A
 10
King Tut
Boulder
V7-8 7B
 12
Herr Right
Boulder
V9 7C
 9
Gin & Juice
Boulder
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Private Slabby Warm-up Area > Twin Soldiers
 36
V0 4 Boulder
The Scoop Warm-up Area > Upstream Arete Boulder
 48
V0 4 Boulder
The Pyramid Pyramid Area
 63
V1 5 Boulder
Balarete Warm-up Area > Upstream Arete Boulder
 46
V3-4 6A+ Boulder
Apex Circuit Area is CLOSED
 4
V4 6B Boulder
Yeast Breadloaf & Immediate…
 42
V4 6B Boulder
Breadloaf Arete Breadloaf & Immediate…
 30
V4 6B Boulder
Moby's Dick Moby's & Friends
 27
V5 6C Boulder
Juggernaut Moby's & Friends
 35
V5 6C Boulder
Low Ride Circuit Area is CLOSED
 4
V5 6C Boulder
Cobra Breadloaf & Immediate…
 37
V5 6C Boulder
Cave Wave Cave
 6
V6- 7A Boulder
King Tut Pyramid Area
 10
V6 7A Boulder
Herr Right Herr Brothers
 12
V7-8 7B Boulder
Gin & Juice Pedal Boulder
 9
V9 7C Boulder
More Classic Climbs in Governor Stable »

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