Rock climbing is a fast-growing sport with roots in America’s West. While the sport has experienced massive growth over the last decade, many of the most incredible destinations in North America were established close to 50 years ago.
With massive stone domes and some of the tallest sheer cliff faces in the world, Yosemite is widely accepted as the premier rock climbing destination in North America. Perhaps the world.
A short drive from Louisville takes climbers into one of the most unique sandstone canyons in the country. From friendly, rounded huecos to sharp, unforgiving edges, these overhanging walls resemble a climber’s cathedral as the afternoon sun reflects off the red rock.
“Trad” climbing is a classic approach to modern rock climbing, using minimal fixed gear to ascend. The perfect vertical cracks of Indian Creek provide ideal conditions for this traditional discipline.
Utah’s granite canyon is just 20 minutes outside of Salt Lake City and an awe-inspiring escape for locals and visitors alike. The canyon is home to exceptional single and multi-pitch climbing as well as roadside bouldering at the canyon floor.
While the West is packed with world-class crags, the East Coast has a few gems as well. Rumney is a stunning climbing area loaded with step walls and overhanging challenges.
Wild Wyoming is home to one of the most isolated and impressive areas in country. Ten Sleep features immense walls of limestone with hundreds of options for visiting climbers.
Located just one hour from Vancouver’s bustling downtown, Squamish is Canada’s premier climbing spot and a very popular summer destination. This area is home to “Dreamcatcher,” which was one of the hardest rock climbs in the world when first completed by Chris Sharma in 2005.
Colorado is home to countless climbing areas, but Rifle is the crown jewel. The iconic canyon holds a high concentration of very difficult single-pitch climbs. The area is located in between Vail, Aspen and Grand Junction. Coastal climbers should plan a few days for acclimation to the extreme elevation.
The sleepy town of Palm Springs is the nearest major city to Joshua Tree. This park is an alien landscape with 200-foot-tall boulders that seem to have dropped from the sky. Stick around for the sunset. The view from the top of the rock is best enjoyed in this golden light.
Eastern Oregon is much drier than the West and sits at a much higher elevation. Smith Rock is less than an hour out of the mountain town of Bend and is surrounded on three sides by the Crooked River. Every angle of this golden monolith offers breath-taking views.
Each of these incredible climbing destinations is located near one or more Best Western Hotels & Resorts locations. With more than 2,200 locations in North America alone, your adventure will never be too far from a warm bed and your favorite amenities. Plan your next climbing adventure and book direct at bestwestern.com.
