Lance Brock on Lynn’s Arete

Boat Rock Preserve Land Aquistition Fund Click here to Donate!

Boat Rock is a small urban boulderfield located in southwest Atlanta, Georgia. This area has come under considerable pressure in recent years from residential subdivision construction. Boat Rock has a long history of climbing and held one of the first bouldering competitions in the U.S. back in 1985. Names like Robyn Ebersfield, Ron Kauk, Bob Cormany, Curtis Glass, Shannon Stegg, Rich Gottlieb and Jerry Roberts ring throughout the nearly mile long stretch of egg shaped granite boulders. The climbing at Boat Rock is very technical and takes a great deal of balance and foot work. A miscue can cost you flesh or shoe rubber. But the rewards far outweigh the risk as this area will literally "blow open your bouldering pallette" and definetly make you not only a better but more humble climber. There are lots of delicate slabs; but just when you think you’ve figured out Boat Rock, you come across a climb like the bulgey "Paint Can" which are sure to stretch your climbing imagination.

With all good things, there is a dark side. Within the past few years, the urban sprawl of Atlanta began to consume the once isolated bouldering area. Much of the "Back Side" has been recently subdivided into residential subdivision while the area around the lake is slated for high density commercial use. The SCC has continued to work with the developer to save the area around the lake and make it a park for the public. The local climbing community galvanized when the opportunity to purchase a forested tract along Boat Rock Road came up for sale. The newly purchased 7.8-acre tract is now open to the public and located on 1220 Boat Rock Road.

In 2005 a local climber donated 4.5 acres to help with expanding the park. In 2006 another local climbers purchased a house adjacent to Boat Rock and the boulders surrounding it (Easy Crack boulder). This area is now open to climbing and the house is rented by climbers. In January of 2007, The SCC raised the final funds to pay off the mortgage on the 7.8 acre tract and Boat Rock is debt free. Check the SCC website for upcoming fundraising events.

Click Here for info - Boat Rock "Float the Boat" Bouldering Comp Fundraiser

One bright note with the recent efforts at Boat Rock is our environmental education project which brings young school kids to the area to learn about the geology and plant life and to do a little bit of climbing afterwards. To date we have had kids from Nesbitt Ferry Elementary School and The National Wildlife Federation to tour the area and learn about conservation and to enjoy the hiking trails and boulders. REI has generously donated funds in recent years to help this progam and to help ongoing maintenance of the park.

Our larger vision for the area is to create a 30 acre greenspace and park for all of the community to enjoy. The SCC has been contacting landowners to see if they will donate land to this project.

Some tips while climbing at Boat Rock: