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Elevation: 1,286 ft
GPS: 33.98856, -86.45815
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Shared By: saxfiend on Jan 30, 2007 · Updates
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Description Suggest change

If you're looking for a pleasant spot to bring friends new to climbing, Alabama's Palisades Park is a great choice.

Located not far from Birmingham, Palisades is a Blount County Park with a nice little cliff line running just below its parking lot. There's a good range of climbing difficulty, ranging from easy 5.4 up to roofy 5.12. Almost all routes can be easily top-roped without leading, and most have permanent anchors, so it's a perfect place for a beginner's first outdoor climbing experience. And if you're just getting started on trad, Palisades is an excellent training ground; routes like Buckets (5.5) offer easy leading and plentiful protection. Be aware, though, that the grades tend to be sandbagged; Elephant Crack (5.6) and Box Lunch (5.7) are not for the novice leader. There's no sport climbing at Palisades; no bolting is allowed.

All climbers must register at the park office and buy a $5 climbing permit (good for three days) or a $35 annual permit. From the parking lot, head for the cliff top near a picnic pavilion and scramble down a fourth-class gully/chimney to the base of the cliff.

If you need a map of the routes, the park office will supply you with one. Otherwise, the Dixie Cragger's Atlas is a good resource for routes at Palisades.

Getting There Suggest change

From Birmingham, take SR 75 north to Oneonta. Take a left on US 231 (north); about a mile or two outside of Oneonta, watch for signs pointing to Palisades Park and follow county roads to the park entrance.

From Atlanta, take I-20 west to the US 231 exit. Follow 231 north through Oneonta, then follow directions above to the park.

61 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Palisades Park

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 34
Posey's Pass
Trad, TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 53
Elephant Crack
Trad, TR
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 38
Box Lunch
Trad
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 57
Cashmere
Trad, TR
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 35
Steeples
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 25
Nine to Five
Trad, TR
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 19
R&D
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 18
Captain Crunch
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 35
The Flake
Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 52
Boobs
Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 10
Post Nasal Drip
Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 21
Mickey's Mantle
Trad, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 18
Tim's Route
Trad, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 19
Night of the climbing dead
TR
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 18
Christmas Crack
Trad, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Posey's Pass
 34
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, TR
Elephant Crack
 53
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
Box Lunch
 38
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Trad
Cashmere
 57
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Trad, TR
Steeples
 35
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Trad, TR
Nine to Five
 25
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
R&D
 19
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, TR
Captain Crunch
 18
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
The Flake
 35
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Boobs
 52
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, TR
Post Nasal Drip
 10
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, TR
Mickey's Mantle
 21
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, TR
Tim's Route
 18
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR
Night of the climbing dead
 19
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b TR
Christmas Crack
 18
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, TR
More Classic Climbs in Palisades Park »

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