This one is for all of our DiG adventurers looking for a fun and unique day trip experience! Whether you’re an avid rock climber or just a newbie, heading to Mount Yonah with your friends is always a blast. Located in the mountain town of Cleveland which is just under two hours from Gwinnett, this is a popular spot for hiking, climbing, bouldering and camping.
When preparing for your rock climbing journey, it’s important to pack the essentials. While I’ve accompanied my friends to Mount Yonah, I mostly stick to indoor climbing at Central Rock Gym, so I’ll turn it over to the experts themselves! Below is a list of essentials you should pack according to climber Paul who is our resident Mount Yonah expert. He shared that, “it’s one of the premier outdoor climbing spots in the state of Georgia, and a must-see for any hiking or climber enthusiast.”
Rock Climbing Essentials:
- Pack a lunch for the day with plenty of water (around 3 L to be safe)
- A sling with a carabiner
- A harness
- A helmet
- Plenty of rope
- Chalk bag
Once you get to the trailhead parking lot (the entrance will sneak up on you so drive slowly) and park, you’ll notice boulder routes along the trail that you’ll take to the halfway point (referred to as the meadow). Just past the meadow, you’ll find yourself at the lowers which is a smaller foot trail. You’ll know you’ve made it when you see the craggy cliff and makeshift stone chairs along the bottom. While you can climb the main face which is the signature feature of Mount Yonah seen from the highway, climber Paul recommends only lead climbers with technical experience should attempt it as it’s currently on his bucket list to attempt one day.
Each of the routes on the lowers varies in difficulty so finding one that matches your skill level is crucial. Local climber Elena shared that they’re around a 5.8-5.9 difficulty on the climbing scale but some do reach 5.14. You can either lead climb where you clip yourself to the anchor points along the way or top rope with a pre-set anchor. There’s a foot trail on the left-hand side of the cliff where the top anchor points are located that you can set up before climbing. No matter how you choose to climb, Elena shared that Mount Yonah is a ton of fun and perfect for climbers who are climbing outside of a gym for the first time.