Alabama · Rock climbing · Jacksons Gap

Down Stairs

7 routes
5.6 – 5.9
Top Rope · Bouldering · Trad
Feb–May, Oct–Dec
best months

Down Stairs is a climbing area in north-central Alabama, about 2.7 miles from the town of Piney Point. It sits among a cluster of boulders and crags, with Smith Mountain, Latrine Boulder and Big Boss Man Wall all about 0.1 mile away. The area offers a mix of styles, including three boulders and three top-rope routes, with one trad climb. Typical grades run from V0-1 on the bouldering side to 5.6 through 5.9 on the top rope. "There's bolts up here?" and "Blood Sport" are two of the top-rope options, and "Crack to Crack" is the trad route. The YDS grades and V scale numbers put the most common routes in the low 5.8s and V0 range. For a change from climbing, the Walker Bynum Tower Loop Trail starts just 0.2 mile away, and the Alabama Reunion Trail lies about 7 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Feb–May, Oct–Dec

    Best time to visit Down Stairs

    Best months: February–May and October–December. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      57° / 29°

    2. Feb

      61° / 32°

    3. Mar

      68° / 38°

    4. Apr

      76° / 45°

    5. May

      83° / 55°

    6. Jun

      89° / 62°

    7. Jul

      91° / 67°

    8. Aug

      91° / 63°

    9. Sep

      87° / 59°

    10. Oct

      77° / 47°

    11. Nov

      67° / 37°

    12. Dec

      58° / 32°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Camp Hill 2nw, AL, 10.6 mi away at 680 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (7)