Written By: Elyssa Candal, R3 Pro Shop Manager

Time to Send: Spring Break Edition

March has arrived! Itching to climb outside and smell that sweet fresh air? With Spring Break around the corner, you have an entire week to take your family and friends on a road trip into the beauty of nature to play and go climbing in Texas.  Explore new places or visit old ones that offer beautiful scenery and challenging climbs. You can go camping or stay at hotels, motels, or a local B&B!

Located in Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock (also known as E-Rock) allows for awesome granite Bouldering, Sports, and Traditional (Trad.) Climbing. E-Rock is designed as a multi-pitch climb where at least a 70-meter rope is required. You can either top out and walk back down or rappel down. You can get in for $7/person or stay at one of their 46 walk-in campsites for $15 a night. You can also stay at their primitive campsites (20 available) for $10/night, which take a 1-3 mile hike to get there. It fills up fast, so make a reservation to secure a spot!

About 30 miles southwest of Austin is Reimers Ranch, where you can sport climb a selection of limestone ranging from 5.5 – 5.14 that offers an excellent view of the hill country. You can also find fun bouldering projects! With the Pedernales River nearby, you can dip in one of the several swimming holes after a nice day of climbing. Come prepared with cash (they don’t take credit cards!). It’s $10 per vehicle to get in for the day. No camping here (you can camp at Pace Bend), so get out early to beat the crowd!

If you want more of a road trip, Hueco Tanks is a great place to check out. Hueco Tanks holds some of the best granite boulder problems in West Texas in El Paso. This rocky outpost has something for everyone. It’s $7 per day, and the kiddos get in for free. This trip will require you to plan and make reservations due to the limited access to 20 campsites available!

If you don’t have the gear, it’s a good thing we are here! Visit our R3 ProShop to find a great selection from brands like Petzl, Sterling Rope, Black Diamond, and more. We have ropes of different sizes and lengths for your craving to get on that route. Harnesses that will work in the gym AND on your outdoor climbing adventures. Belay devices for sport and/or multi-pitch climbing. Are shoes blowing out? Come see our selection from brands like La Sportiva, Scarpa, Butora, Tenaya, and Five Ten! We’ll help get you fitted for a new pair of kicks. Most importantly, don’t forget about taking care of your skin! Browse through our options of salves and creams from ClimbOn, Joshua Tree, and Badger.

For more detailed information about the parks, visit: Travis County Parks (Reimer’s Ranch), Texas Park and Wildlife Department (Enchanted Rock and Hueco Tanks), and the Mountain Project (for info on climbing at all).