Getting into rock climbing can be intimidating; and with good reason. If you are not used to scaling cliffsides, it could seem like one of the most extreme activities in the world. Of course, nobody says that you have to start rock climbing by ascending the world's tallest mountains, there are far better starting points.
Today, we are going to take a look at some of the best rock climbing spots in America. We are going to focus on places with climbs that are easy enough for beginners. While some of these climbs may appear relatively simple when compared to more advanced locales, they are still not to be taken lightly.
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Joshua Tree has a massive selection of climbing routes that are meant for climbers of all skill levels; it is also one of the better known national parks in America.
If you are a beginner, there will be plenty for you to do at the Joshua Tree National Park, and you can even dabble in more difficult climbs if you are brave enough. Of course, you will want to make sure that you don't take on a slope that is beyond your skillset.
While Joshua Tree may have some highly technical climbs, one of the leading attractions is the view you get from the top of most of the climbs. As a reward for your efforts, you will be greeted by a beautiful natural vista at the end of most of your climbs.
Mount Rushmore, SD
Mount Rushmore is known for more than just its famous cliffside. While the sculpture of some of this country's greatest heroes is undoubtedly a stunning humanmade wonder, there are also many climbs that you can undertake as a beginner.
As with many other places, there are also advanced climbs at Mount Rushmore. Whether or not you choose to try out any of the more difficult climbs, it is almost guaranteed that you will enjoy climbing at Mount Rushmore.
An added benefit of enjoying some rock climbing at this location is that you can enjoy the tourist experience after you have finished climbing if you have never before visited Mount Rushmore.
Custer State Park, SD
While we are discussing climbing locations in South Dakota, few places in the United States can match Custer State Park for the variety and beauty of some of its climbs. The climbs at Custer range from easy to exceedingly difficult, so you will be able to see a wide range of them.
In fact, one of the best-known climbs in Custer State Park is easy enough to be undertaken by most beginner climbers. The Waste Knot is a little more difficult than most beginner climbs, but it is simple enough if you have a level of experience that is at least marginal.
In fact, many would recommend the Waste Knot as the best climb in the park, which makes Custer State Park ideal for beginners who don’t want to miss out on the full experience.
Maple Canyon, UT
If you’re willing to travel out to Utah to try out a climb, or if you live nearby, you will want to check out Maple Canyon. There are so many climbs that are geared towards beginners in Maple Canyon that it almost seems as if it was made to help people get accustomed to rock climbing.
There is a climb in Maple Canyon that is considered one of the best around the world, and it is ideal for beginners. This climb is known as Tachycardia, and it is nowhere near as vertical as some of the other climbs that many consider as being the best in America.
There are many climbs in Maple Canyon that are meant to be ideal for beginner climbers; they have an entire zone dedicated to beginners and children known as “the Schoolroom Area.” You have a choice of over 300 climbs in Maple Canyon, so you can even bring friends who are more advanced climbers.
Smith Rock, OR
Smith Rock is one of the most famous rock climbing locations in the US. While it doesn't have as much to do apart from rock climbing, like Mount Rushmore or the Joshua Tree, you will find that Smith Rock is heaven for climbers.
Over the course of the past 50 years, Smith Rock has gone from a simple state park to one of the most popular rock climbing destinations in the world. There are nearly 900 climbs that you can participate in when you visit Smith Rock, and many of them are ideal for beginners.
The most popular beginner climb at Smith Rock is probably Five Gallon Buckets. This is another one of those trails that offers quality that many do not expect to find in easier climbs. As a beginner, you have a choice of several other climbs as well, and some that are even easier than Five Gallon Buckets.
Rumney, NH
There is a distinct lack of climbing locations for beginners on the east coast that can be described as world-class, but Rumney has two of them. If you are looking for routes that are renowned worldwide but you aren’t an advanced climber, you will want to visit the climbing locations around Rumney.
The climbing grades vary from 5.3 all the way up to 5.15a, so you will have one of the largest selections of climbs as a beginner.
The first of Rumney’s well-known beginner climbs is the Crowd Pleaser. With a grade of 5.7, the Crowd Please is the easier of the two climbs. The second one, which is more challenging, is the Junco. This trail is classified as a 5.8, but it can get a little more difficult than most trails at that level.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is no shortage of excellent beginner climbs across the United States. We hope that this list has helped you find one that is ideal. Feel free to leave a comment down below.
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