Most Midwesterners tend to stick to the gym or travel to climb, but if you’re motivated, you can find rocks to scale outside. Here are a few quiet bouldering destinations in Minnesota and Wisconsin that can rival what you鈥檒l find in Texas, California, Utah or anywhere out East.
The Best Midwestern Bouldering: Robinson Park, Minnesota
You wouldn鈥檛 know that the town of Sandstone, 90 minutes north of Minneapolis, is a climbing hotspot until you set eyes upon the smooth old quarry walls within Robinson Park on the west bank of the Kettle River. This tiny preserve is famous in Minnesota as a sport- and ice-climbing destination, but there is a smattering of excellent bouldering problems as well, including the V12 The Raven.
STAY: Near the frothing Kettle River at one of the campsites at nearby Banning State Park ($12 a night).
The Best Midwestern Bouldering: Governor Dodge State Park, Wisconsin
Dodgeville, about 45 minutes west of Madison, is best known for being the home of the Lands End clothing company’s headquarters. But among climbers, it鈥檚 more famous for the collection of giant sandstone boulders within in the broad, 5,000-acre , which encircles two small lakes deposited at the bottom of a shallow valley. The area behind the Group B campsite on the northern end is the most densely packed with problems, but there are boulders scattered throughout the park, if you’re willing to look.
LUNCH: Grab a burger and a plate of deep-fried local Wisconsin cheese curds at .
The Best Midwestern Bouldering: Devil鈥檚 Lake State Park, Wisconsin
The glacier that carved Devil鈥檚 Lake out of the Baraboo Hills in southern Wisconsin also left some quality climbing along the remaining quartzite bluffs, not to mention a treasure trove of excellent boulders. The lake and area surrounding it are protected by a giant, and popular, state park, which provides developed camping spots. Grades range from V0 up to the double digits, with the highest concentrations of problems located along the park’s East and West Bluffs.
STAY: At the motor lodge, whose rooms are decorated with themes like “Gone Fishin’,” and “Americana Apple.” Rates start at $58.