Land Manager: Oglethorpe County Parks and Recreation

Native Lands: S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), Mvskoke (Muscogee / Creek) (from native-lands.ca)

Area Rep: Hannah Kemelmakher, (404)421-3514, greycat28@gmail.com | Luke Riley, Lukeriley84@gmail.com

 

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Shaking Rock is a small park in the middle of the small town of Lexington, Georgia and about 25 minutes out of Athens. This area is named for a huge rock that, before recent weathering and earthquakes, could be shaken by the force of your hand. A quick survey of the bouldering area will seem very much similar to Boat Rock, in Atlanta. The park features large, egg-shaped granite boulders, some stacked on top of each other.

The park is meaningful to the friendly Oglethorpe County residents that come by with their kids. It is always quiet, and offers a short loop trail that cuts through the boulders, past tucked-away picnic benches, and by a beaver pond often gets slightly overgrown. If you meet a local there, they’ll tell you about Saddle Rock where they used to play decades ago.

Directions

Google Maps

What to Expect

Shaking Rock has been described before as ‘Boat Rock without the texture’, a very fitting title. For the most part the granite looks and feels like boat rock. Many of the problems are short, with tricky mantles. There aren’t hundreds of rocks, but the ones that are there are super-concentrated, all within a stone’s throw. You can boulder all day without putting your pad on your back, or even taking your shoes off.

Some lay claim to their being hundreds of short problems, and while the obvious classics will be clean, not all of the other dozens of problems are frequented regularly. The boulder field is oriented conveniently, with easy, satisfying traverses for warm-up up front, and a beautiful cliff in the back which features a dramatic roof and clean landing area.

Access notes

  • The park closes at dark
  • Dogs: Dogs are welcome, but please keep them on a leash.
  • Leave No Trace: Keep this area beautiful and clean. Clean up after yourselves, your peers, and your pets. Lead by example and pick it up on the first pass.

Camping

No camping

Guidebook

Shaking Rock Guide (courtesy of @shakingrockbouldering on Instagram)

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