Alabama · Rock climbing · Leesburg · Near Albertville

Grotto

GrottoPhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
13 routes
5.8 – 5.13d
Sport · Trad
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Grotto is a climbing area in northern Alabama, about 1.6 miles from the town of Mackey. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with several other areas within a tenth of a mile, so it works well as part of a broader trip across the region's rock. The area offers a range of routes, with 13 in total. They span sport and trad styles, and grades run from 5.8 up to 5.13d. Some of the named routes include Three's Company (5.10c sport), Champagne Jam (5.12c/d trad), and Crucified By Love (5.13a sport). Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Gadsden show October highs around 71°F with lows near 48°F, and April similar at about 70°F by day and 48°F at night. Summer highs reach the upper 80s, and winter lows drop to around 31°F in January. Weiss Lake lies about 9 miles away and is the closest lake fishing option for anyone pairing a climbing day with time on the water.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Noccalula Falls Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 15 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Jack's

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 7 mi · Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Albertville
  • Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Grotto

    Best months: March–June and September–November. 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

      49° / 31°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      54° / 34°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      61° / 41°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      70° / 48°

      10 wet

    5. May

      77° / 55°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      84° / 63°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      87° / 67°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      86° / 66°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      81° / 59°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      71° / 48°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 38°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 34°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gadsden 19 N, AL, 11 mi away at 1,152 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (13)

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