Sand Rock

Sand Rock 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 several named areas within about a tenth of a mile, including Holiday Block, Jaws Block/West Side Rock and The Pinnacle. Sand Rock Bouldering and The Sandtrap are also close by, so the area works well as a base for a day of bouldering and sport climbing. The climbing here is a mix of bouldering and traditional and sport routes. There are 13 routes in total, with bouldering making up the majority. The bouldering grades range from V0 to V5, and the traditional and sport routes run from about 5.10b to 5.12+. Some of the bouldering routes include Trypophobia (V0) and Wingmaster (V5), and the Redneck Rhino Left Shortcut is another V3. 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. That station sits roughly 500 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures on the rock run a little cooler.