THE BEST ROCK CLIMBING IN THE UNITED STATES
There are fantastic areas for bouldering and rock climbing all across the United States, even in states and areas you might not expect there to be. As you look through the lists below,
please let me know if you believe I have omitted any of the classic bouldering or rock climbing destinations in the country.
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TOP ROCK CLIMBING AREAS IN THE U.S.
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Here are my choices for the very best rock climbing areas in the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii):
Western U.S.
✮ City of Rocks National Reserve (ID)
✮ Devil's Tower National Monument (WY)
✮ Eastern Sierra area (CA)
✮ Eldorado Canyon State Park (CO)
✮ Index (WA)
✮ Indian Creek (UT)
✮ Joshua Tree National Park (CA)
✮ Moab area (UT)
✮ Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area (NV)
✮ Smith Rock State Park (OR)
✮ Yosemite National Park (CA)
✮ Zion National Park (UT)
Central U.S.
✮ Hueco Tanks (TX)
Eastern U.S.
✮ New River Gorge (WV)
✮ Red River Gorge (KY)
✮ Rumney Rocks Day Use Area (NH)
✮ Shawangunks, The (NY)
Squamish in British Columbia is also a world-famous rock-climbing destination, and it is located only a few hours north of the border of Washington and Canada.
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THE BEST ROCK CLIMBING IN EACH U.S. STATE
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The following sections describe my selections for the best rock climbing in each U.S. state:
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Alabama:
✮ Bouldering in Horse Pens 40
✮ Bouldering in Moss Rock Preserve
✮ Rock climbing in Jamestown
✮ Rock climbing in Palisades Park
✮ Rock climbing in Sand Rock
Discover Alabama travel ideas with my comprehensive Alabama Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Arizona:
✮ Rock climbing Cochise Stronghold
✮ Rock climbing Mount Lemmon
✮ Rock climbing Santa Catalina Mountains
✮ Rock climbing in Sedona
✮ Rock climbing the Granite Dells in Prescott
Discover Arizona travel ideas with my comprehensive Arizona Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Arkansas:
✮ Rock climbing at the Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
Discover Arkansas travel ideas with my comprehensive Arkansas Travel Guide.
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California is one of the very best states in the country for rock climbing. Here is my list of many of the best rock climbing in California:
✮ Bouldering in/near Bishop
✮ Bouldering at Black Mountain the San Jacinto Mountains
✮ Bouldering in Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area
✮ Bouldering in/near Idyllwild
✮ Bouldering in Joshua Tree National Park
✮ Bouldering in/near Sonora Pass
✮ Bouldering in Vasquez Rocks Natural Area
✮ Rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park
✮ Rock climbing near Lake Tahoe
✮ Rock climbing in Lee Vining Canyon
✮ Rock climbing in the Needles area of the southern Sierra Mountains
✮ Rock climbing in Yosemite National Park
In my opinion, the best rock climbing in California is Yosemite National Park.
Discover California travel ideas with my comprehensive California Travel Guide.
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Colorado is one of the very best states in the country for rock climbing. Here is my list of many of the best rock climbing destinations in Colorado:
✮ Rock climbing Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
✮ Rock climbing Boulder Canyon
✮ Rock climbing Castlewood Canyon State Park
✮ Rock climbing Clear Creek Canyon
✮ Rock climbing Eldorado Canyon State Park
✮ Rock climbing Flatirons, Boulder
✮ Rock climbing Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs
✮ Rock climbing Rifle Mountain Park
✮ Rock climbing Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Rock climbing Shelf Road, Canon City
Discover Colorado travel ideas with my comprehensive Colorado Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Connecticut:
✮ Rock climbing Chatfield Hollow
✮ Rock climbing Ragged Mountain
Discover Connecticut travel ideas with my comprehensive Connecticut Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Delaware:
✮ Bouldering in Rockford Park
✮ Rock climbing in Alapocas Run State Park
Discover Delaware travel ideas with my comprehensive Delaware Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Florida:
✮ Bouldering in Blowing Rocks Preserve
Discover Florida travel ideas with my comprehensive Florida Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Georgia:
✮ Bouldering in Rock Town
✮ Rock climbing on Mount Yonah
✮ Rock climbing in Tallulah Gorge State Park
Discover Georgia travel ideas with my comprehensive Georgia Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Idaho:
✮ Bouldering the Channel
✮ Bouldering Dierkes Lake in Twin Falls
✮ Rock climbing in Castle Rock State Park
✮ Rock climbing in City of Rocks National Reserve
✮ Rock climbing Dierkes Lake in Twin Falls
✮ Rock climbing Elephant's Perch
✮ Rock climbing the Fins
✮ Rock climbing in the Sawtooth Mountains
✮ Rock climbing the Shoshone Lava Tubes
In my opinion, the best rock climbing in Idaho is City of Rocks National Reserve.
Discover Idaho travel ideas with my comprehensive Idaho Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Illinois:
✮ Bouldering at Holy Boulders in Shawnee National Forest
✮ Rock climbing at Jackson Falls in Shawnee National Forest
Discover Illinois travel ideas with my comprehensive Illinois Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Indiana:
✮ Rock climbing in Muscatatuck Park, North Vernon
Discover Indiana travel ideas with my comprehensive Indiana Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Iowa:
✮ Bouldering in the Ozark Wildlife Area
✮ Rock climbing in Backbone State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Indian Bluffs State Wildlife Management Area
✮ Rock climbing in Pictured Rocks County Park
Discover Iowa travel ideas with my comprehensive Iowa Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Kansas:
✮ Bouldering at Rock City
Discover Kansas travel ideas with my comprehensive Kansas Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Kentucky:
✮ Rock climbing in the Red River Gorge
Discover Kentucky travel ideas with my comprehensive Kentucky Travel Guide.
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I am not aware of any nationally significant rock climbing destinations in Louisiana.
Discover Louisiana travel ideas with my comprehensive Louisiana Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Maine:
✮ Rock climbing on Mt. Desert Island (e.g. Acadia National Park and surrounding areas)
Discover Maine travel ideas with my comprehensive Maine Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Maryland:
✮ Bouldering in Rock State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Carderock on the east side of the Potomac River
✮ Rock climbing in Rocks State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Sugarloaf Mountain Park
Discover Maryland travel ideas with my comprehensive Maryland Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Massachusetts:
✮ Bouldering in Lincoln Woods
✮ Bouldering in Lynn Woods Reservation, Lynn
✮ Bouldering in Redrocks Conservation Area, Gloucester
✮ Rock climbing Crow Hill in Leominster State Forest, Leominster
✮ Rock climbing Quincy Quarries, Quincy - a hot-spot for top-rope style climbing
Discover Massachusetts travel ideas with my comprehensive Massachusetts Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Michigan:
Upper Peninsula
✮ Bouldering in/around the Marquette area
✮ Rock climbing on Silver Mountain in Ottawa National Forest
Lower Peninsula
✮ Rock climbing in Oak Park/Grand Ledge
Discover Michigan travel ideas with my comprehensive Michigan Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Minnesota:
✮ Bouldering in Blue Mounds State Park
✮ Bouldering in/around Duluth
✮ Bouldering in Interstate State Park
✮ Bouldering in Sandstone
✮ Rock climbing in Blue Mounds State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Interstate State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Palisade Head
✮ Rock climbing in Red Wing/Barn Bluff
✮ Rock climbing in Sandstone
✮ Rock climbing at Tettegouche State Park
Discover Minnesota travel ideas with my comprehensive Minnesota Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Mississippi:
✮ Rock climbing in Tishomingo State Park
Discover Mississippi travel ideas with my comprehensive Mississippi Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Missouri:
✮ Bouldering in Elephant Rocks State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Johnson Shut-Ins State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Providence
✮ Rock climbing at Robinson Bluff
Discover Missouri travel ideas with my comprehensive Missouri Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Montana:
✮ Rock climbing near Bozeman and/or Big Sky
Discover Montana travel ideas with my comprehensive Montana Travel Guide.
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I am not aware of any nationally significant rock climbing destinations in Nebraska.
Discover Nebraska travel ideas with my comprehensive Nebraska Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Nevada:
✮ Rock climbing in Red Rock National Conservation Area - one of the most famous rock-climbing destinations in the U.S.
✮ Rock climbing in the Ruby Mountains
✮ Rock climbing near Lake Tahoe
In my opinion, the best rock climbing in Nevada is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Discover Nevada travel ideas with my comprehensive Nevada Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in New Hampshire:
✮ Rock climbing in Rumney Rocks Day Use Area
✮ Rock climbing on Cannon Cliff
✮ Rock climbing on Cathedral Ledge
✮ Rock climbing on Mt. Washington
In my opinion, the best rock climbing in New Hampshire is Rumney Rocks Day Use Area.
Discover New Hampshire travel ideas with my comprehensive New Hampshire Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in New Jersey:
✮ Bouldering in Sourland Mountain Preserve
✮ Bouldering in Tourne County Park
✮ Rock climbing in Allamuchy State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Discover New Jersey travel ideas with my comprehensive New Jersey Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in New Mexico:
✮ Bouldering in Ponderosa
✮ Rock climbing at Box Recreation Area
✮ Rock climbing at Sugarite Canyon State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Taos
Discover New Mexico travel ideas with my comprehensive New Mexico Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in New York:
✮ Bouldering in Central Park, New York City
✮ Rock climbing all over the Adirondacks
✮ Rock climbing in the Shawangunks (aka "The Gunks"; this is a world-famous climbing destination)
In my opinion, the best rock climbing in New York state is the Shawangunks.
Discover New York travel ideas with my comprehensive New York State Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in North Carolina:
✮ Bouldering in/near Boone
✮ Bouldering at Hanging Rock State Park
✮ Bouldering at Rumbling Bald
✮ Rock climbing at Crowder's Mountain State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Hanging Rock State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Linville Gorge
✮ Rock climbing at Looking Glass in Pisgah National Forest
✮ Rock climbing at Pilot Mountain State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Rumbling Bald near Chimney Rock
Discover North Carolina travel ideas with my comprehensive North Carolina Travel Guide.
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I am not aware of any nationally significant rock climbing destinations in North Dakota.
Discover North Dakota travel ideas with my comprehensive North Dakota Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Ohio:
✮ Bouldering at Chippewa Creek
✮ Bouldering in Hocking Hills Forest
✮ Bouldering at Salt Fork State Park
✮ Bouldering at Whipp's Ledges
✮ Rock climbing at Logtown
✮ Rock climbing in Rockbridge
✮ Rock climbing at Whipp's Ledges
Discover Ohio travel ideas with my comprehensive Ohio Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Oklahoma:
✮ Bouldering in Quartz Mountain State Park
✮ Bouldering in Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Rock climbing in Quartz Mountain State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Robber's Cave State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
Discover Oklahoma travel ideas with my comprehensive Oklahoma Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Oregon:
✮ Bouldering at Carver Woods
✮ Bouldering at Lost Lake Boulders
✮ Rock climbing at Broughton Bluff near Portland
✮ Rock climbing at Rattlesnake Rock in Umpqua National Forest
✮ Rock climbing at Smith Rock State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Spring Mountain in Pendleton
✮ Rock climbing at Trout Creek in Willamette National Forest
In my opinion, the best rock climbing in Oregon is Smith Rock State Park.
Discover Oregon travel ideas with my comprehensive Oregon Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Pennsylvania:
✮ Bouldering at Coopers Rock
✮ Bouldering at Governor's Stable
✮ Bouldering at Haycock Mountain
✮ Bouldering at Mt. Gretna
✮ Rock climbing at Birdsboro Quarry
✮ Rock climbing at McConnells Mill State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Ohiopyle State Park
Discover Pennsylvania travel ideas with my comprehensive Pennsylvania Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Rhode Island:
✮ Bouldering in Lincoln Woods State Park
Discover Rhode Island travel ideas with my comprehensive Rhode Island Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in South Carolina:
✮ Bouldering at Jocassee Gorges
✮ Bouldering at Rocky Creek
✮ Rock climbing at Big Rock Mountain
✮ Rock climbing at Table Rock State Park
Discover South Carolina travel ideas with my comprehensive South Carolina Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in South Dakota:
✮ Rock climbing and bouldering in the Black Hills
✮ Rock climbing in Palisades State Park
In my opinion, the best rock climbing in South Dakota is in the Black Hills.
Discover South Dakota travel ideas with my comprehensive South Dakota Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Tennessee:
✮ Bouldering at Stone Fort (aka Little Rock City)
✮ Rock climbing in/near Chattanooga (e.g. the Tennessee Wall)
✮ Rock climbing at King's Bluff
✮ Rock climbing along the Obed Wild & Scenic River
✮ Rock climbing at Prentice Cooper
✮ Rock climbing at Suck Creek Canyon
✮ Rock climbing in Sunset Park in Lookout Mountain
Discover Tennessee travel ideas with my comprehensive Tennessee Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Texas:
✮ Bouldering in/near Austin
✮ Bouldering in Hueco Tanks State Park
✮ Bouldering in/near Lake Belton
✮ Bouldering in Palo Duro Canyon State Park
✮ Rock climbing in/near Austin
✮ Rock climbing at Continental Ranch
✮ Rock climbing in Enchanted Rock State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Hueco Tanks State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Milton Reimers Ranch Park
In my opinion, the best rock climbing in Texas is Hueco Tanks State Park.
Discover Texas travel ideas with my comprehensive Texas Travel Guide.
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Utah is one of the very best states for scenic drives. There are so many outstanding paved and unpaved routes all over the state. Here is a list of many of the best rock climbing in Utah:
✮ Rock climbing in and around Moab (there are many locations)
✮ Rock climbing in and around Springdale and Zion National Park (there are many locations)
✮ Rock climbing Indian Creek (near the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park)
Discover Utah travel ideas with my comprehensive Utah Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Vermont:
✮ Bouldering in Smuggler's Notch State Park
✮ Rock climbing the Bolton Crags
✮ Rock climbing Deer Leap in Killington
Discover Vermont travel ideas with my comprehensive Vermont Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Virginia:
✮ Bouldering at Cascades
✮ Bouldering at Guest River Gorge
✮ Bouldering at High Knob Landform
✮ Bouldering at McAfee's Knob
✮ Bouldering at Grayson Highlands State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Breaks Interstate Park
✮ Rock climbing at Great Falls
✮ Rock climbing in/near Harrisonburg
✮ Rock climbing at Rawley Springs
Discover Virginia travel ideas with my comprehensive Virginia Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Washington state:
✮ Rock climbing in/near Index
✮ Rock climbing in/near Leavenworth (e.g. The Enchantments, Icicle Creek Canyon, etc.)
✮ Rock climbing in North Cascades National Park
Discover Washington travel ideas with my comprehensive Washington Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in West Virginia:
✮ Bouldering in the town of Bozoo
✮ Bouldering at Coppers Rock State Forest
✮ Rock climbing Coopers Rock State Forest
✮ Rock climbing at Meadow River
✮ Rock climbing at New River Gorge
✮ Rock climbing at SenecaRocks
✮ Rock climbing at Summersville Lake
Discover West Virginia travel ideas with my comprehensive West Virginia Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Wisconsin:
✮ Rock climbing in Devil's Lake State Park
Discover Wisconsin travel ideas with my comprehensive Wisconsin Travel Guide.
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Here is my list of the best rock climbing in Wyoming:
✮ Bouldering the Galaxy near Pinedale
✮ Rock climbing in the Bighorn Mountains
✮ Rock climbing in Devils Tower National Monument (e.g. Durrance route)
✮ Rock climbing in Fremont Canyon
✮ Rock climbing in Grand Teton National Park
✮ Rock climbing in/near Lander
✮ Rock climbing in/near Laramie
✮ Rock climbing in Sinks Canyon State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Ten Sleep
✮ Rock climbing in Vedauwoo
✮ Rock climbing in the Wind River Mountains
Discover Wyoming travel ideas with my comprehensive Wyoming Travel Guide.
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