The Ultimate Climbing Bucket List: Iconic Destinations to Dream About
The sport of climbing presents an irresistible allure, filled with adventure, challenges, and unforgettable experiences. In line with this, every climber has dream climbs to pursue, featuring both iconic destinations and lesser-known gems. Here are our top climbing destinations!
Joe’s Valley, UT
Distance from Coeur: 855 miles
Photo: Jeremy T. Dyer, Bureau of Land Management Utah, public domain
Recognized as one of the finest bouldering areas on the planet, this area features hundreds of unique sandstone boulders hosting over 800 established problems.
Short approaches, skin-friendly stone texture, and mostly-safe landing areas make Joe’s a dream destination for climbers around the world.
Red Rocks, NV
Distance from Coeur: 1,132 miles
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Nevada, public domain via Wikimedia Commons
There are few places that can offer more variety in climbing, weather, and off-the-wall activities than Red Rocks.
It’s easily accessed, located only 20 minutes out of the bustling 24/7 party town of Las Vegas.
This area features thousands of routes from bouldering, short overhanging sport routes, long bolted sport climbs, and some of the most iconic 20+ pitch traditional lines ever climbed.
Red River Gorge, KY
Distance from Coeur: 2,165 miles
Photo: Jarek Tuszyński / CC-BY-3.0 & GDFL, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Located outside Lexington, Kentucky, “The Red” is one of the finest climbing destinations east of the Mississippi.
This area has seen climbing activity since the 1950s and probably long before that. The location is mostly known for its wildly overhanging bolted sport climbs and world-class testpieces, but there are just as many traditional climbing routes as well.
Don’t forget to visit Miguel's Pizza; this restaurant has been the cultural center of the Red River climbing scene since the early 80s.
Yosemite Valley, CA
Distance from Coeur: 1,006 miles
Photo: Meros Felsenmaus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
It’s hard to imagine a location that rivals Yosemite’s history and importance in the world of rock climbing.
“The Valley” has been the epicenter of big wall climbing for decades and continues to be a rite of passage for anyone serious about the sport.
But don’t worry if you're not ready to tackle El Capitan, with its jaw-dropping 3000 feet of vertical height. There are routes of every grade, on some of the finest granite on the planet, that are accessible to climbers of any level.
Laem Phra Nang, Thailand (Railay & Tonsai)
Distance from Coeur: 8,005 miles
Photo: Una Baufala via Pexels
What could be cooler than climbing in Thailand? This area is one of the most exotic climbing locations, containing towering limestone walls with pockets, water runnels, and tufas surrounded by jungle and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Getting there is part of the adventure, and probably not recommended for the rookie traveler. But for those looking for a true ”bucket list” location, this just might be it.
And, don’t forget your local climbing gym or crag. Bucket lists don’t have to be only iconic—personal goals matter too!
We hope we’ve inspired you to create your own list of dream destinations! Coeur Climbing offers training and resources to help climbers prepare for their bucket list adventures. Learn more about programs and events at our gym.
