Noccalula Falls Campground
Campground
Campground · 15 mi from the trail
Alabama · Rock climbing · Leesburg · Near Albertville
The Hole
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 6 routes
- 5.8- – 5.12c
- Sport · Bouldering
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
The Hole is a climbing area in northern Alabama, about 1.5 miles from the town of Mackey. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Sun Wall, Grotto and Sand Rock Bouldering all within about a tenth of a mile. That makes it easy to pair with other routes in the same stretch of rock. The climbing here is mostly sport, with six routes spread across grades from 5.8- up to 5.12c. The bouldering at Sand Rock Bouldering is the only boulder problem in the area. Among the sport routes, Price is Right is a 5.11a that was first climbed by Johnny Arms in 1998, and Vicious is the hardest at 5.12c. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Gadsden show October highs around 71°F with lows near 48°F, and April is similar at about 70°F by day and 48°F at night. Summer runs hotter, with July highs averaging 87°F. Weiss Lake, about 9 miles away, is the closest lake for fishing.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Jack's
Restaurant
On your way back · 7 mi · Open after 6If it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in AlbertvilleBest time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit The Hole
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.
Jan
49° / 31°
11 wet
Feb
54° / 34°
11 wet
Mar
61° / 41°
11 wet
Apr
70° / 48°
10 wet
May
77° / 55°
10 wet
Jun
84° / 63°
10 wet
Jul
87° / 67°
11 wet
Aug
86° / 66°
11 wet
Sep
81° / 59°
9 wet
Oct
71° / 48°
8 wet
Nov
61° / 38°
9 wet
Dec
52° / 34°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gadsden 19 N, AL, 11.1 mi away at 1,152 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Sun Wall
Next door
Sun Wall in Alabama has 54 climbing routes across 23 grades, offering sport, top-rope, and trad styles.
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Grotto
Next door
Grotto in Alabama has 13 routes across 10 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)New Wall (AKA Kurt Russell Block)
Next door
New Wall (AKA Kurt Russell Block) in Alabama has 15 sport climbing routes with 13 difficulty grades.
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Sand Rock Bouldering
Next door
7 bouldering routes in Alabama spanning 5 grades.
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)The Sandtrap
Next door
Sandtrap, The in Alabama has 5 traditional climbing routes across 5 difficulty grades.
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Turtle Rock
Next door
Turtle Rock in Alabama has 20 climbing routes across 12 grades, offering sport and traditional styles.
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Boy Scout Wall
Next door
Boy Scout Wall in Alabama has 7 traditional climbing routes across 5 grades.
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Jaws Block/West Side Rock
Next door
Jaws Block/West Side Rock in Alabama has 10 climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Sand Rock
Next door
Sand Rock in Alabama has 13 climbing routes across 10 grades, offering bouldering, sport, and trad.
Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)The Pinnacle
Next door
Pinnacle, The in Alabama has 16 routes across 12 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
