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Elevation: 1,021 ft
GPS: 34.4353, -86.6746
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 143,889 total · 771/month
Shared By: saxfiend on Nov 19, 2008
Admins: Stonyman Killough, Luke Cornejo, saxfiend
Warning Access Issue: Don't trespass outside SCC boundaries DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Apart from being a great climbing area, Yellow Bluff is the latest triumph of ownership by climbers of once-closed crags. As of March 2009, a sizeable chuck of this cliff is owned by the Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC).

Located near Huntsville, Yellow Bluff is a long (about 1500') unbroken hard sandstone cliff. Development began in the 1980s with the discovery of the cliff by Atlanta climber Shannon Stegg. Numerous trad lines were established by Stegg and other pioneers, including James Dobbs and Curt and Betty Jo Merchant. Later, local leaders like Jesse Guthrie began putting up sport routes, including Guthrie's Rainbow Warrior (5.13a/b), the first 5.13 in Alabama. The quality of climbing at Yellow Bluff attracted attention from as far away as NY; climbers flocked to sample the excellent sandstone crack lines.

Unfortunately, this growing popularity was Yellow Bluff's downfall. The crag was on private property, and the owner was tolerant as long as climbing was a low-profile affair. But when articles extolling the cliff appeared in national climbing magazines, the owner reacted negatively to the increased traffic. Yellow Bluff was closed to climbing.

All that changed in late 2008 as long-standing efforts by the SCC finally bore fruit. In early December, the SCC announced that it had secured a contract to purchase the right half of Yellow Bluff. Fund-raising efforts to secure the money for the purchase quickly gained steam, and the $34,000 purchase price was quickly raised through grants and donations from individuals. The contract was finalized in March 2009 and Yellow Bluff is now open for climbing.

Getting There Suggest change

From Birmingham, take I-65 north for about 70 miles to exit 328. Go east on SR 36, then take a right on SR 67. Continue through the crossroads for the small town of Florette, then turn left on Pines Road. Take the next left onto Fowler Road, then continue less than a mile to a fork; take a slight left onto West Point Road. The pull-off for Yellow Bluff is about a quarter-mile on the left.

From Atlanta, take I-20 west into Alabama for about 90 miles to the Oxford/Anniston area. Take exit 188 to US 431 North. Continue on 431 into Gadsden; after crossing I-59, look for the turnoff to US 278. Take 278 west to US 231. Turn right on 231, then almost immediately left on SR 67 and follow this about 20 miles. Just before the Florette crossroads, turn right on Pines Road; follow this for about a mile to a sharp left onto Fowler Road. Continue as noted above to Yellow Bluff.

From the parking lot area, follow the obvious trail marked with surveyors tape. A five-minute hike will bring you to the base of the cliff near the right end of the SCC-owned section.

78 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Yellow Bluff

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 47
Outstanding
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 37
Head in the Toilet
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 33
Strutin
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 66
Lucifer's Revenge
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 39
Noob
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 22
Diamond Maker
Sport
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 40
The Ten
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 27
Injection Burn
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 34
Faith
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 26
Arlan's Route
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 20
Cloudy With A Chance Of Rockfall
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 22
Orange Crush
Trad, TR
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 27
Tilt-a-Whirl
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 35
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 5
Novacaine
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Outstanding Right Side Cliff
 47
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Head in the Toilet Right Side Cliff
 37
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Strutin Right Side Cliff
 33
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Lucifer's Revenge Right Side Cliff
 66
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Noob Right Side Cliff
 39
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Diamond Maker Right Side Cliff
 22
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
The Ten Right Side Cliff
 40
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Injection Burn Right Side Cliff
 27
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Faith Right Side Cliff
 34
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Arlan's Route Right Side Cliff
 26
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Cloudy With A Chance Of Roc… Right Side Cliff
 20
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Orange Crush Right Side Cliff
 22
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad, TR
Tilt-a-Whirl Right Side Cliff
 27
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride Right Side Cliff
 35
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Novacaine Right Side Cliff
 5
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Yellow Bluff »

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