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Cove Hollow Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Cove Hollow

Cove Hollow Trail South 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Dugout, The 1 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Main Amphitheater 3 / 9 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 11

Moon Rock 2 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Northeast Cliffline 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Shout Area 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

South Creek side boulders 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Sunny Side 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

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Elevation:	651 ft	198 m
GPS:	37.64028, -89.29985 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	25,614 total · 159/month
Shared By:	Jordan Wood on Sep 13, 2011
Admins:	Aaron Mc, Dave Hug, Kevin Sierzega Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

Cove Hollow is a hiking trail that follows the east side of Cedar Lake, just south of Carbondale, on USFS land. The cliffs along the trail are home to several gear and bolted routes put up by Jim Thurmond (and others?) in the 70s and 80s. Recently, a handful of quality bolted lines have gone up, bringing some new attention to the area. At a twenty minute drive, Cove Hollow is the closest sport climbing to Carbondale, making it a great choice for quick mid-week sessions.

The summer, as with most climbing in southern Illinois, is hot, humid, and buggy. Fall and spring are the prime time, but warm days in the winter can be perfect. A few routes in the dugout will stay dry in light rain, but most of the other climbs here do not.

Getting There

The trailhead is located at the end of Cove Hollow Road in Pomona, IL. All of the climbs are within a fifteen minute walk of the parking area.

g.co/maps/pkg77

Park in the gravel lot at the end of the road and follow the trail downhill and to the right. This will soon join the top of the cliff line. After about a hundred yards, a trail heads down to the base of the cliff. Continuing in the same direction along the base will bring you to the main amphitheater with a waterfall and a fire circle. Heingerous ascends the face just left of the prominent dihedral chimney on the right side of the wall. Slimy Arches is the large arching dihedral on the left side of the wall.

Following the trail for another several minutes will lead you across a stream to the Dugout and the Shout area.

Sunny Side is accessed by taking the trail in the opposite direction after hiking down from the top of the cliff.

27 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Cove Hollow

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

5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b 4 ● Ralphie's Variation Sport Moon Rock
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 4 ● Ralphie's Ruse Sport Moon Rock
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 6 ● Legacy Sport Main Amphitheater
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 6 ● Inception Sport Main Amphitheater
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c 4 ● Hyperion Sport Main Amphitheater