Governor Stable Bouldering

GS is always ACCESS SENSITIVE and it's our communities responsibility to keep it open.

Go to www.scpclimbers.org for additional information.

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GS RULES

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW AND FOLLOW THESE 3 STEPS:

1. READ THE RULES BELOW

2. SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST 

3. DONATE TO SCPC

• Due to SCPC's fundraising efforts from the Diabase Double Down and generous donations, climbing access at GOVERNOR STABLE IS OPEN FROM DECEMBER 21ST, 2024 - JULY 31ST, 2025. Do not enter the boulders after July 31st, 2025.

• SIGN UP FOR OUR 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’s home page and follow us on social media to stay informed.

• 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. Please turn your vehicle headlights OFF while parked in the parking lot to prevent shining lights into the neighbors homes and keep a low profile at the township 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 as we’ve had issues with this in the past.

• DO NOT GO BEYOND THE PYRAMID BOULDER. The Slabs and Circuit Area are owned by a different landowner and they are closed until further notice. SCPC continues to work on opening this section of the boulders, but the other landowners are currently not interested.

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

• NO NIGHT CLIMBING. Climbing is only allowed from dawn until dusk. This is due to the township park being closed at dusk and to respect the neighbors near GS. SCPC will continue to work towards gaining access to this once again, but it is not an option at this time.

• “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 need to keep a good relationship with the community. 

• 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 everyone’s responsibility to monitor the Governor Stable boulder field and help uphold these access rules. This is our boulder field, we need to protect it and care for it together. 

• 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 website, Facebook, 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.