A Guide To Rock Climbing Near Zion National Park

The sport of rock climbing is still gaining popularity, and in 2020 will be an Olympic sport in Tokyo.  Bringing the sport to the global stage will surely result in a dynamic increase of climbers worldwide, especially in the rock climbing hot spots, like St. George, Utah and Zion National Park.  Whether you’re learning to scale the indoor walls at the gym or tackling V8 and V9 treachery outdoors, you should know of some of the world’s greatest places for rock climbing near Zion National Park.

Competitive Climbing

In competitive rock climbing, the athletes generally choose from three distinct disciplines: Lead Climbing, Bouldering, and Speed Climbing.  In lead climbing, the competitor climbs as high as he or she can on a 40- to 60- foot route. In bouldering, they climb a series of short challenges limited to a set amount of time for each feature.  In speed climbing, it’s a race to the top without falling. This is timed and compared to the other athletes’ times. During the Tokyo Olympics, climbing will be a combined event that includes all three disciplines.  Forty climbers—20 men and 20 women—will compete over four days. The top qualifiers from the first rounds will complete all three disciplines back-to-back in the finals round.

St. George

St. George, Utah has more sport-climbing routes per capita than any other American city.  It is indeed the rock climber’s paradise. Not only does it have plenty of features to tackle, but also a variety of rock types:  red sandstone, limestone, and volcanic black rock. Some of the favorites are Chuckawalla, Woodbury Road Crags, Utah Hills, Zen Wall, Green Valley Gap, Snow Canyon, Prophesy Wall, Underworld, Crawdad Canyon, Cougar Cliffs, Turtle Wall, Bluff Street Cracks, Dutchman’s Draw, and Running Scared Crag.  Places to match your skill level and style are quite ubiquitous around St. George, especially in the gorgeous Snow Canyon.

Campgrounds

There are three campgrounds in the city limits of St. George, but my favorite home base is just ten miles outside the city in Snow Canyon State Park.  This has gotta be the best campground anywhere, with easy access to a bevy of stunning rock to climb. Half of the 33 campsites are reserved for large RVs.  You’ll have access to electricity, toilets, drinking water, and even showers.

Zion National Park

Some of the most magnificent feats to climb are in nearby Zion National Park, well-known by the best rock climbing enthusiasts.  Zion shows off its endless objectives for rock climbing. Large walls are the norm in Zion. You’ll be inundated with plenty of underclings, jugs, lay-backs, and traverses at your fingertips; have your fill of topping out and crash pads.   Flash the V3s and V4s, and test your mettle on the tougher ones.

A Guide To Rock Climbing Near Zion National Park

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