Dallas climbing?

I'm headed down to visit my dad soon, any good climbing near Dallas or on the drive down there from Denver? I won't be there more than a week but if there was something worth throwing the crash pad in the car for or bringing my top rope solo setup for or even a decent gym that would be cool. No one in my family down there climbs so other than taking my little brother out top roping, I doubt anyone would join me.

Chris

The dallas area is pretty bleak for climbing, I'm sorry you'll be stuck there for a week. Exposure is a great gym that I highly recommend, otherwise the nearest outdoor climbing is at least an hour away and usually not worth the drive. Don't bother with a pad or rope unless you are willing to drive 4+ hours south to the Austin area. Soooo glad I moved...

Is Exposure in Dallas? I'm not sure my little brother has ever been climbing and I could take him to the gym one day.

No worries on being there for a week, my family and bike training will keep me plenty busy :) As long as I still get to live in CO myself I'll be good, haha.

Chris, it seems to me that the drive to Austin from Dallas is more like 3 hours, though it really depends on were in Dallas you are coming from, it is a huge and sprawling city and metro area.

There are actually about 4 or 5 gyms in the Dallas area. Exposure is one, there is one in Grapevine (Summit), don't know the suburb (Canyons) and at least another.

There is a newish Texas Limestone Bouldering guidebook out. There is an area near Waco called Tonkawa Falls that looks pretty good and Roger's Park in Belton is supposed to be good. Both are closer to Dallas, maybe 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

You could also take a long day and head to Riemer's Ranch, by the time you get there it will be about 4 hours. The people are really nice and if the weather is climbable on a weekend there will be tons of folks to climb with, just ask. When I've gone on weekdays there are usually a handful of people out there, particularly afternoon. Loads of short sport routes of all grades and many can be east to set up TR's on as they go right to the cliff top and the approach starts at the top.

My family is in Rockwall. I have no idea where anything is in Dallas and really don't want to drive too far to climb, it's not that big a deal. I'll be driving down and back solo which is enough driving for me :)

Just got back from Ft. Worth...spent a day in Austin climbing the beltway, but I don't think Dallas has anything. I'm not even sure Austin is worth the drive really, unless single pitch limestone is your bag. Enchanted Rock is great if you want to make the long drive.

Shoot Hank an email, he'd probably have an idea.

Riemer's os way better than the Greenbelt, but if the drive is too far it is too far.

Have a good trip.

Canyons is in Frisco which is pretty close to Rockwall and means that you would not have to drive into Dallas like you would for Exposure, though Exposure might be closer.

Chris ~

You probably already saw this but....
Wichita's

Quartz Mtn.

Depending on your route to Dallas you can go by these popular crags which have good climbing depending on the wx @ the time.

Ever climbed in a grain silo? It's in 'downtown' Carrollton north of Dallas right off the interstate, I35E north of 635 (LBJ Frwy):

stoneworksrockgym.com/

Other than that for real rock, I'd second the Wichita Mts near Lawton OK and Quartz Mt near Altus OK kind of on the way. Much more so than Austin.

Thanks for all the ideas guys! This is definitely enough for the short amount I'll have available to climb.

Chris, I didn't see any dates for when you will be here, but there is a Top Rope only crag in Mineral Wells state park which isn't too far from where you will be. There is also a place called Paradise on the Brazos (although CURRENTLY closed) near Graham Texas. That place should be opening back up though in about a month. However it was supposed to be open back in November. So, we shall see.

Exposure and Summit are the best climbing gyms in the area. Oh, and Dallas Rocks is pretty good too, lots of high bouldering problems. I think the bouldering walls are about 15+ feet high.

I'll be going today to Dallas Rocks since that's closest, if anyone wants to go PM me and get my cell. I can probably teach my brother to belay, too bad I don't have a gri gri. haha JOKING sort of