![\"Devils](\"https:\/\/blog.travall.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ThinkstockPhotos-948589198.jpg\")
<\/h2>\nDevil\u2019s Tower National Monument, Wyoming<\/h2>\n
Rising tall and proud above the northern plains of Wyoming, Devil\u2019s Tower is a must-see geological wonder whether you plan to climb it or not. If ascending the monolith\u2019s 867 feet from base to summit is <\/em>on your day\u2019s agenda, you\u2019ll be greeted by some of the finest crack climbs found anywhere on the planet. While there are some bolted sport routes available, most climbers reach the top by wedging temporary anchors for their ropes into the plentiful \u201csplitter cracks,\u201d a climbing discipline known as \u201ctrad\u201d or \u201ctraditional\u201d climbing. This style of climbing is widely regarded as the most difficult in terms of the technical skills required and should only be attempted by climbers with years of experience. If that isn\u2019t you, several guiding operations in the area would be all too happy to take you to the top.<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible to climb Devil\u2019s Tower every month of the year, but at 5,112 feet above sea level, winter can bring loads of snow and the best climbing conditions generally occur from April to September. Visiting the monument is free of charge and there\u2019s a visitor center where you can learn all about the Tower, the history of the region, and the Native American tribes who deem it sacred ground.<\/p>\n As soon as you cross the Mississippi River heading east, rock climbing opportunities diminish quickly. That is, unless you make tracks for the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. Here, you\u2019ll find an unbelievable quantity of high-quality sandstone cliffs across a huge swath of both public and private land. What\u2019s exciting is that while there are many established climbing areas, there\u2019s still lots of climbable rock that has yet to be explored. This is one of those rare frontiers left in the climbing world and is where you\u2019ll find elite climbers sending progressively harder, ever more technical routes to leave their mark in history.<\/p>\n The vast majority of the climbing in \u201cThe Red,\u201d as it\u2019s known, is performed on well-maintained bolted sport routes. Sport climbing is a discipline where climbers clip \u201cquickdraw\u201d carabiners and their ropes into fixed anchors on the rock to arrest a fall. Most bolted anchors are installed purely by volunteers who provide an invaluable service to the rest of us climbers who reap the benefits. There are routes for all skill levels in The Red, from easy routes with big jug hand holds to extremely overhung walls with tiny crimps barely big enough for a fingertip. When you visit, be sure to stop by Miguel\u2019s Pizza and Climbing Shop, a local watering hole known for its phenomenal pies that also serves as a museum for the area\u2019s climbing history.<\/p>\n With one of the highest concentrations of big walls over 1,000 feet tall, Zion National Park is a trad climber\u2019s haven. While the area is known for its abundance of long, sustained, multi-pitch climbs on bright orange desert sandstone, there are also lots of options for more casual climbers\u2014i.e. those of us who aren\u2019t <\/em>willing to sleep on the wall! Several areas within the park, such as Kolob Canyon, feature some exceptional sport routes that offer easy access and the opportunity to climb only one or two pitches. Some climbing areas in Zion, however, are very remote, requiring long, arduous hikes through the spikes and thorns of cactus country.<\/p>\n Since summer temperatures rise well above 100 degrees, spring and fall generally offer the best conditions for climbing in Zion. Regardless of when you visit, one of the most important things to remember is to never attempt a climb at Zion after a rain or snow storm as the sandstone here is extremely fragile and unpredictable when wet. Most sources recommend waiting at least a week for the rock to dry out in order to avoid the dangers of crumbling rock. And always wear your helmet!<\/p>\n In addition to rock climbing, Zion National Park also boasts a mind-boggling array of hiking and multi-day backpacking opportunities. So, if you\u2019re not feeling up for a 1,000-foot-plus climb, just lace up those boots and hit the trails! Keep in mind, however, that the area is a nesting zone for Raptors and Peregrine Falcons and the National Park Service does issue park closures and restrictions in certain areas for the preservation of the species.<\/p>\n Regarded as the birthplace of rock climbing in America, Yosemite National Park is where devout rock climbers from around the globe go to test their skills on the epic granite faces of El Capitan and Half Dome. These massive monolithic rock formations dominate the landscape and if you look closely in the early morning hours of spring or early fall, you\u2019ll likely dozens of climbers camped out on \u201cportaledges\u201d suspended thousands of feet off the valley floor. Most big wall climbing feats in \u201cThe Valley,\u201d as the park is known, are performed in three to five days\u2014yes, without touching the ground\u2014using trad climbing techniques. While such pursuits have grown in popularity in recent years, only the most seasoned climbers around find success by reaching the summit.<\/p>\n Looking for a tamer Yosemite climbing experience? Easy! There are many closer-to-the-ground climbing opportunities in The Valley if you know where to look. With over 1,722 (and counting) documented climbing routes including trad, sport, toprope, and bouldering opportunities, you\u2019ll find a lifetime\u2019s worth of climbing in Yosemite. Plus, this place is absolutely gorgeous and loaded with hiking trails to get you to all the best climbing spots, with plenty of waterfalls and wildlife along the way.<\/p>\n Ropes, harnesses, carabiners, quickdraws, helmets, climbing shoes, chalk bags, tow bags, portaledges, crash pads, daisy chains . . . The list of gear needed to get up a rock face never seems to end! And that\u2019s not including the all the clothing, camping gear, and coolers full of food you\u2019ll need to make the trek to your destination and to sleep comfortably once you get there. Keeping everything organized and accessible in your vehicle can be a big challenge if you don\u2019t have some systems in place.<\/p>\n Luckily, at Travall<\/a>, we have some solutions to help make your climbing journeys more organized and less stressful. Since your trunk will likely be stacked to the ceiling to fit everything, a Travall Guard<\/a> cargo barrier should be first on your list of vehicle accessories. Fitting over the rear seat of your SUV, a Travall Guard ensures that all that gear stays put in the back. To bring even more organization to your trunk while also providing space to bring your dog along, a Travall Divider<\/a> splits your trunk area in two, maximizing every inch of usable space.<\/p>\n All Travall vehicle accessories are made to fit specific vehicles, so take the first step by looking up your make and model to start outfitting car for your upcoming climbing adventures today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Interested in trying rock climbing but not sure where to go? We\u2019ve got you covered. In no particular order (they\u2019re all amazing!), here are five of the best rock climbing spots in the States. Even if you don\u2019t plan on chalking up and strapping on a harness, gazing upon the natural beauty found at these …<\/p>\nRed River Gorge, Kentucky<\/h2>\n
![\"Angels](\"https:\/\/blog.travall.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ThinkstockPhotos-521229942.jpg\")
<\/p>\nZion National Park, Utah<\/h2>\n
Yosemite National Park, California<\/h2>\n
![\"Winding](\"https:\/\/blog.travall.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ThinkstockPhotos-638357008.jpg\")
<\/p>\nKeep Your Climbing Gear Organized with Travall<\/h2>\n