OutsideSep 23
You Can Still Afford to Live in a Great Climbing Town. Here Are 6.
When the best climbing seems blocked by sky-high housing prices, these are the underrated climbing towns you can still afford.
Backcountry, rugged experience with 800-some routes
24 things in this story
- Mount LemmonSightAlpine environs with over 3,000 trad, sport, bouldering routes
- Cochise StrongholdSightBackcountry, rugged experience with 800-some routes
- The BLOCPlaceDiscover thrilling heights at Rocks and Ropes, Tucson…
- Panther PeakSight
- Gate's PassSight
- Rock Solid ClimbingPlace
- Elsewhere
- Tennessee RiverAquariumChattanooga, United StatesDeep water soloing along the river near Chattanooga
- Indian CreekSightBluff, United StatesEndless splitters, over an hour's drive from Bluff
- Valley of the GodsSightBluff, United States40-minute drive from Bluff, offers rock climbing
- Comb RidgeCaféBluff, United StatesA cool eatery in Bluff
- Shelf RoadSightCañon City, United StatesLimestone sport mecca, 48 minutes from Cañon City
- Four Mile CreekSightCañon City, United StatesAbundant bouldering a few miles north of town
- Buckskin CragsSightCañon City, United StatesVariety of climbing less than 20 minutes away
- Rock SteadyPlaceCañon City, United StatesClimbing gym in pre-development, target opening 2027
- Wauhatchie PikeSightChattanooga, United StatesLegendary bouldering near Chattanooga
- New River GorgeTrailFayetteville, United StatesOffers thousands of trad, sport, and bouldering routes
- Gripped FitnessPlaceFayetteville, United StatesSmall bouldering and board gym in Fayetteville
- Sugarloaf QuarrySightWinona, United StatesAbout 40 sport routes in Winona
- Winona ice climbing parkSightWinona, United StatesOne of a handful of ice parks in the country
- LaCrosseSightWinona, United StatesSport climbing about 25 miles away
- Red WingSightWinona, United StatesSport climbing just over an hour away
- Winona State UniversityPlaceWinona, United StatesHas a climbing wall open to the public
- High Point ClimbingPlaceChattanooga, United States
- Synergy ClimbingPlaceChattanooga, United States