Bouldering in Alabama - Horse Pens 40

The best type of rock climbing found in Alabama is bouldering, and the best place to go bouldering is Horse Pens 40, otherwise known as HP40. Horse Pens 40 has quickly gained recognition the world over as having some of the most challenging and unique “sloper climbing” to be found on fantastic sandstone rock. Here there are hundreds of high-quality problems for the V5 and under boulderer, with acres of bulbous faces, blunt prows, delicate slabs, crimpy overhangs & water grooves to climb. HP40 is one of the premier winter bouldering destinations in North America, and is situated on a mountain top in the northeast corner of Alabama offering great bouldering conditions from late October to late March.

HP40 is a privately owned park by the very climber-friendly Schultz families, who live on the land and go out of their way to provide visitors with the ultimate Southern hospitality and bouldering experience. With ample camping, cabin rentals, showers, a camp store, and a restaurant located within about 30 seconds walk of the boulder field, HP40 might be the most convenient bouldering destination you’ll ever visit.

Other bouldering areas worth visiting in Alabama are Moss Rock Preserve near Birmingham and Palisades Park near HP40. The Birmingham local spot Moss Rock Preserve is a small and condensed boulder field, which is home to a couple hundred high quality boulder problems featuring tall boulders with absolutely bullet hard rock.