All Locations > N Carolina > 3. Piedmont Region

Crowders Mountain Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Crowders Mountain

Dixon School Boulders 170

Hidden Wall 20

Main Climbing Areas 186

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Elevation:	913 ft	278 m
GPS:	35.24038, -81.2694 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	493,139 total · 2,347/month
Shared By:	EricD on Feb 1, 2008 · Updates
Admins:	Steve Lineberry, Aaron Parlier Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: Post Hurricane Helene Accessibility of Crags Details

The CCC has created the list linked below of accessible and inaccessible climbing areas with some caveats. If you decide to head out for a day of climbing, please do not attempt to go to those marked ‘inaccessible’. Please note that all areas in WNC will have extensive tree damage and if you head out, use extra caution for all the trees above, especially on a windy day. Rock fall potential is also highest after a big weather event. Please use extra caution while climbing and prepare to self rescue if injured. Injury response time will be greatly limited for any injury currently, especially for a remote injury. Cell service is limited in all areas. Parking at accessible crags in the WNC/ Upstate SC region will likely be challenging. If the parking lot is full, go to a different area and do not park illegally or in a road. Make a plan B before leaving your house. Expect road detours on the way to the crag. NCdrive.gov updates road closures. Once you get to the crag, expect many trees blocking access trails and of course, come volunteer with the CCC to help us bring our climbing areas back!

carolinaclimbers.org/conten…

Description

Crowders Mountain is a state park located in western North Carolina. In fact, it's not too far from South Carolina. The rock is of a quartzite type. Its easy approach and proximity to Charlotte make Crowders a popular place on the weekends, and not just for climbers (which leads some locals to call the place "Crowded" Mountain).

The rock quality is pretty good and offers something for everyone. There are numerous top-roping opportunities as well as sport and trad with ratings ranging from 5.5 to 5.13. Cliffs generally face east or west, so finding sun or shade is pretty easy (depending on the time of day), though the thick foliage can make finding sun more difficult.

Lambert and Shull's Selected Climbs in North Carolina is a great book for the area; however, it is not comprehensive. There is plenty to do here, however, since it's easy to top-rope quite a bit.

Keep in mind, this is a state park. Permits are required for climbing and rangers regularly visit the crags and check up on climbers. Permits are free and easy to fill out, so please do this to avoid hassles. Also, there is a gate that opens and closes daily. Please be aware of the time and make sure you leave before closing time.

Getting There

Crowders Mountain is about 30 miles west of Charlotte.

Take I-85 to Exit 13 and make a left off the exit. After this, it depends on where you want to climb. Directions are different for the Hidden Wall and the rest of the areas. Please go to the respective areas to find directions to them.

376 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Crowders Mountain

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

V3 6A 46 ● Classic Overhang Direct Boulder Dixon School Bo… > Classic Overhang Boulder
V3 6A 32 ● Galvatron Boulder Dixon School Bo… > Decepticon Boulder
V4 6B 37 ● Lucifer Boulder Dixon School Bo… > Hell Boulder
V4 6B 20 ● Classic Arete Boulder Dixon School Bo… > Missing Boulder
V5 6C 25 ● Venom Boulder Dixon School Bo… > Snake Jam Boulder
V6 7A 12 ● Zeus Eye Boulder Dixon School Bo… > Zeus Eye Boulder
V6 7A 22 ● Razorburn Boulder Dixon School Bo… > Incinerator Boulder
V7 7A+ 21 ● Atlas Boulder Dixon School Bo… > Egg
V7 7A+ 24 ● Dick Cheney Boulder Dixon School Bo… > Hell Boulder
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 83 ● Caterpillar Trad, TR Main Climbing A… > 04. David's Castle Wall
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 119 ● Electra Sport Main Climbing A… > 04. David's Castle Wall
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 85 ● The Gimp Sport Main Climbing A… > 06. Red Wall
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b 39 ● Burn Crack Trad Main Climbing A… > 01. Practice Wall
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 74 ● Energy Czar Sport Main Climbing A… > 04. David's Castle Wall
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b PG13 9 ● Slimebelly Snakeass Sodhole Skun… Trad Main Climbing A… > 01. Practice Wall