Alabama · Rock climbing · Leesburg · Near Albertville

The Pinnacle

The PinnaclePhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
16 routes
5.6 – 5.12a
Trad · Sport
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

The Pinnacle is a climbing area in northern Alabama, about 1.7 miles from the town of Mackey. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Holiday Block, Sand Rock and Boy Scout Wall all within about a tenth of a mile. That makes it easy to pair with other routes in the same stretch of rock. The area has 16 routes, 14 of them trad and two sport. The grades run from 5.6 up to 5.12a, with the hardest route, Diane, a sport climb first ascended by Jerry Roberts in 1993. Logan's Run, a trad route at 5.10b, is another of the more challenging options. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. 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. That station sits roughly 500 feet lower than the Pinnacle, so temperatures on the rock run a little cooler. Weiss Lake, about 9 miles away, is the closest lake fishing spot.

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 The Pinnacle

    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 (16)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Sand RockPhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sand Rock

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Sand Rock in Alabama has 13 climbing routes across 10 grades, offering bouldering, sport, and trad.

Boy Scout WallPhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Boy Scout Wall

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Boy Scout Wall in Alabama has 7 traditional climbing routes across 5 grades.

Jaws Block/West Side RockPhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Jaws Block/West Side Rock

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Sand Rock BoulderingPhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sand Rock Bouldering

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7 bouldering routes in Alabama spanning 5 grades.

The SandtrapPhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Sandtrap

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Sandtrap, The in Alabama has 5 traditional climbing routes across 5 difficulty grades.

The IslandsPhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Islands

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Islands, The is a climbing area in Alabama with 12 routes.

GrottoPhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Grotto

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Grotto in Alabama has 13 routes across 10 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Sun WallPhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sun Wall

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Sun Wall in Alabama has 54 climbing routes across 23 grades, offering sport, top-rope, and trad styles.

The HolePhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Hole

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The Hole in Alabama has 6 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering bouldering and sport climbing.

New Wall (AKA Kurt Russell Block)Photo: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

New Wall (AKA Kurt Russell Block)

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New Wall (AKA Kurt Russell Block) in Alabama has 15 sport climbing routes with 13 difficulty grades.