MELROSE MOUNTAIN

Our little diamond in the rough.  Blue Ridge Adventure Guides (BRAG) and the Carolina Climbers Coalition (CCC) are very happy to announce the Town of Tryon’s (Town) 5/21/19 acceptance of the Melrose Park Climbing Management Plan, which provides permission for​ public access and rock-climb at cliffs below Hogback Mtn Rd on Melrose Mountain. BRAG led proposal efforts to the Town and brought in the expertise of the Carolina Climber’s Coalition to seal the deal.  Since the Town, BRAG, and CCC began the Melrose Climbing Park feasibility evaluation in January 2019, local area climbers engaged by BRAG and CCC have volunteered time and effort to assess the climbing and trail potential at Melrose Mountain. Between two separate cliff bands, there is potential for dozens of climbing routes and boulder problems.  BRAG envisions the property will not only benefit the physical and mental well being of visitors but also benefit the local economy.  There are also non-profit fund-raising opportunities possible through the use of the property for climbing competitions, and educational/training opportunities for emergency responders and extracurricular school programs.  Upcoming work at the property includes securing grant funding and providing volunteer support to install sustainable hiking trails, add signage, and improve parking areas. A trail map to find the cliffs areas is available at www.carolinaclimbers.org. For climbers interested in new route development, please preview the hardware considerations listed in the Climbing Management Plan posted at www.carolinaclimbers.org. Any visitors to the site must also understand that the property is still in the early stages of development with improvement underway.

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• Two bands of cliff identified as East and West. East cliff has a longer approach with taller routes, West cliff has a short approach with a good variety of climbing styles.

• Trail development is underway at the West cliff, see upcoming events or subscribe below to receive updates for trail days.

• There are 28 established routes and counting (an additional 40 routes feasible) see the CCC website for route development in the climbing management plan.

• We are in need of volunteer help for trail development!