Oklahoma has some excellent mountains and canyons where rock climbing and rappelling is allowed. The sport is very popular in the state. You’ll also find indoor rock climbing gyms from Tulsa to Oklahoma City, perfect for honing your skills and preparing you for a great outdoor climb. Here are five great rock climbing spots in Oklahoma where you can take your game to the next level.
Baldy Point has a half-mile-long face on the south side which offers some of the best routes in the region for rock climbing. The majority of the climbs at the point are rated 5.7 to 5.11+ and they include low-angle and high-angle faces, chimneys, cracks and more. Some sport routes have developed that require more athletic moves. The region probably has more than 500 rock climbing routes along different mountains. You’re sure to find a place to climb that’s quiet, beautiful and challenging.
Charon’s Garden Trail has a 2.4-mile-long path. It’s a rocky, rugged landscape with granite boulders. There are places for rock climbing and boulder hopping along the trail. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service asks climbers to do everything they can to reduce the impact on the environment to maintain open access in the mountains. You’ll find many other routes in this area, but this one has to be one of the most popular.
Robbers Cave State Park is a favorite outdoor location for rock climbers, hikers, and nature lovers. The sandstone cliffs offer some great climbing routes, mostly beginner and intermediate levels, but there are a few difficult climbs. Autumn is one of the best times to climb at the park, but it’s open year-round. Horse Coral Face is a popular place to climb. It has about 18 routes that are beginner level, but it’s a fairly small area that often is busy. Make time to see the cave where Jesse James hid out to see part of the history of Oklahoma.
It’s rare to have a location for rock climbing in a large city that isn’t a gym, but Chandler Park has limestone boulders 15-25 feet in height. There are routes for every level of climber. Most of the climbs have trees or boulders to set up top-rope anchors. The rocks are vertical to overhanging, and the approach or descent is usually a third or fourth class scramble. Look for a local climber to find the best routes, because there are too many to list.
Zen Pen is just west of Tulsa. It doesn’t have a lot of routes, but does offer beginner to intermediate climbs. It’s easy to access. At Highway 51 and Highway 48, go north about a mile. You can park near the train tracks. Walk west toward the river along the tracks, then go south along the cliff band. Some people have accessed the routes through the VFW, too.
