PRINT: Rock Climb Top Choice, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Top Choice

5.10-, Trad, TR, 30 ft (9 m),

Avg: 3.5 from 77 votes
FA: Bill Horton
Texas > Enchanted Rock… > Little Dome > Carnivore Boulders

Access Issue: Rule changes for pets and trail closures 30 minutes after sunset Details

Rule Changes Concerning Pets at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area to Take Effect March 1.
Beginning March 1, new rules will take effect at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area designed to balance the need to better protect sensitive natural habitats atop the rock, including the vernal pools, and still allow visitors to continue to enjoy central Texas’ most popular destination with their pets.

Starting Tuesday, pets will only be allowed in specified camping areas, day-use areas and the Loop Trail. Pets will no longer be allowed to accompany hikers on the Summit Trail that ascends to the top of Enchanted Rock.
Most trails, including the Summit Trail, are closed 30 minutes after sunset, allowing park visitors to view the sunset and safely descend to the parking lot. The Loop Trail is the only trail open after sunset to gain access to the primitive camping areas.

For more info:
tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/…

830-685-3636

Description

Beautiful, left leaning crack that turns vertical and slightly overhanging halfway up. The route starts with a bouldery step into the seem between the Matterhorn and the Grade A boulder. Tight hands finishes with a bulge to the top.

Location

The route is the obvious west facing crack in-between the Matterhorn, Flathead and Grade A.

Protection

Medium Pro (.5-2). Set an anchor with medium pieces in the crack on top. Walk-off on the east side.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Daniel Conner cruising the crux

Maria pulling some moves on the #1 half of Top Choice

Derek pulling through the crux on lead. This perspective helps illustrate that the crux moves are on an overhanging portion of the boulder.

Approaching the Crux - photo by Patrick Hagan

Top Choice, Hight Octane on the left

Sweet #1 hand jams!

Entering the beautiful hand crack.

The awesome start moves.
<br>
Climber from Oklahoma, Julie

The awesome start moves. Climber from Oklahoma, Julie

Awesome crack climb.

some guy we met

After making the top choice

Midway through Top Choice.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

D Graham
Washington, DC

we just went to this route the first of september and this crack is completely filled with bats and the foot high pile of guano at the base. Not disgusting, kinda cool, but enough to keep you off the climb. are bats in this crack a yearly thing or just seasonal? Aug 31, 2014

Derek Strittmatter
AUSTIN

I'm not sure if the bats are seasonal, but we climbed it on 1/24/15 and there were no signs of bats. Jan 25, 2015

Mikey Bui
Lafayette, LA

3/29/15. Can confirm of the bats. Mar 30, 2015

ggstart

Had a group climbing 4/10/2016. No bats that we could see.
Great crack lead climb, working the overhang takes a bit, but worth the work.
GGS Apr 11, 2016

Christopher Smith

One of my favorites in the park and my proudest send as of writing this (just got it yesterday 12-2-17). Bats were definitely there pretty late into the summer this year too. Dec 3, 2017

Lexí Ro
Denver, CO

There aren't enough photos of this climb lmao Jul 21, 2020

Todd F

Bats in the crack July 2020: youtu.be/0WaVECXwkLQ Jul 29, 2020

Joe Davis

No bats or guano. This is 2023 though. Some hard moves given the lack of feet on the left face. Bomber jug at the top. Feb 6, 2023

Nicholas van Rensburg
San Antonio, TX

5.10-

youtu.be/P9H7IEN5y4o Mar 28, 2023

Jon Robert

Climbed this on 4/09/23 and there was a stopper stuck deep in the crack in the overhang. The loop on the end of the wire was right in the vicinity of my finger when trying to jam. Watch out that your finger doesn't get stuck. Apr 14, 2023