All Locations > Pennsylvania > S Central PA

Boxcar Rocks (Chinese Wall) Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Boxcar Rocks (Chinese Wall)

* Bouldering 10

Main Wall 20

Western Spine 3

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	1,264 ft	385 m
GPS:	40.5445, -76.5356 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	48,349 total · 237/month
Shared By:	Dan Smith on Aug 14, 2008
Admins:	Justin Johnsen, SCPC, SWPACC, EPAC Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Description

A mixed conglomerate area that has a few dozen sport routes and many trad leads. Most routes can be toproped, however it is highly recommended to be roped up if you're on top setting up. Beware the rock can be loose and pebbles can break off when you least expect.

Getting There

From the south, east or west: drive (probably via PA 78 or 81) to route 72 north near Swatara township. Follow it through Swatara Gap - crossing the Appalachian Trail - and through Swatara State Park as it becomes route 443 north.

2.1 miles past the 443 north junction, turn left onto Gold Mine Road. Follow it a total of 4.4 miles, over a short, steep mountain pass (Blue Mountain) and a second uphill grade. The pullout will be the largest on your right hand (east) side, with room for several cars to park before the dirt pullout road is blocked by a closed gate.

Park here and walk east past the gates until you reach a burn site - if you're attentive you might see a small wood sign saying "Boxcar Rd" on the left. Continue waling and take the first real trail on the right (southward). This takes you to the back side of the rocks near the "turtles head" (Moby Neil end) on the Main Wall.

The coordinates here are for the Main Wall parking lot.

Directions if driving from the north (I think - please verify, I haven't confirmed this). Heading south on Gold Mine Road, go over the first mountain. Continue down until you pass the rail bed. The pullout is third pullout on the left side.

Bat Conservation | How You Can Help

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

33 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	Boxcar Rocks (Chinese Wall) Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at Boxcar Rocks (Chinese Wall)

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

V0 4 4 ● The White Fang Boulder Bouldering
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a 7 ● Russell's Ruin Trad, TR Main Wall
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 6 ● Moby Neil Trad, TR Main Wall
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 15 ● Curt's Crack Trad, TR Main Wall
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 14 ● Margies Curves - Left Trad, TR Main Wall
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 4 ● Birthday Girl Trad Main Wall
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 7 ● The Apprentice Sport Main Wall
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 9 ● Please Don't Pop Sport Main Wall
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 5 ● Manhattan Limited TR Main Wall
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b 7 ● Snap Crackle Plop Sport Main Wall
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b 8 ● Autumns Child Trad, TR Main Wall
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a 4 ● Silver Streak TR Main Wall