The Adventure Collective 2016 WNC Adventure Guide Magazine | Page 13

13 Asheville Climbing Expert: Climbmax Climbing 43 Wall Street, Asheville, NC (828) 252-9996 || www.climbmaxnc.com Climbmax Climbing (Downtown Asheville): Climbmax Climbing in downtown Asheville is one of the area’s oldest and most popular climbing gyms. Climbmax is the hub for a wide range of rock climbing programs and guided outdoor adventures. Whether choosing to climb indoors on one of the many varied and challenging climbing structures or head out on a guided adventure outdoors on the real rock, Climbmax Climbing has something for everyone. Climbmax Climbing Gym is a family friendly facility and provides services and adventure opportunties forall ages, from the most basic climbing to the most challenging terrain. Directions from Asheville: Head downtown to parking in the Wall Street Parking Garage for the easiest and least expensive parking option for your visit to ClimbMax. Climbmax is located at 43 Wall Street,Asheville, NC. Looking Glass Rock (Brevard): Looking Glass Rock features enough routes to occupy many a full day of adventure. Steeped in history and set in the most beautiful part of the Pisgah, the massive granite dome includes climbs of all varieties and grades, providing challenges for first-time novices and experienced veterans alike. Tucked away beneath the 500-foot-tall North Face of Looking Glass Rock are a handful of classic boulder problems well worth a visit. The boulders are located 1/4 mile before the base of the cliff on both sides of the trail when approaching the North Side. Climbmax Climbing Guides specialize inguided adventures for all regardless of their previous experience, age, or abilities, making them a great fit for a first-time trip up Looking Glass Rock or other local climbing areas. Directions from Asheville: Take I-26 E to Exit 40.Turn right on NC 280 towards Brevard for 16 miles to Hwy 276.Turn right on Hwy 276 N into the Pisgah NF. Go 5.3 miles to left at the State Fish Hatchery sign. Continue straight on the gravel road to the fork, then bear right 1.2 miles. The first parking area is for the South Face, the second for the Nose Area, and the third for the North Face. Cedar Rock (Pisgah, Brevard): With a vast difficulty range that accommodates all skill levels and over two dozen varied climbs, Cedar Rock is a popular yet typically uncrowded climbing destination.The dome’s main wall features classic climbs like Cedar Pie and Toads R Us, requiring delicate face climbing, but also has numerous shorter climbs in the vicinity. At about 1,000 feet higher in elevation than Looking Glass Rock, air temperatures are typically cooler, and the views are stunning. Directions from Asheville: Take I-26 E to Exit 40.Turn right on NC 280 for 16 miles to Hwy 276.Turn right on Hwy 276 N into the Pisgah National Forest. Go 5.3 miles to left at State Fish Hatchery sign. Continue straight for about 3 miles on gravel road past the road to Looking Glass Rock parking area.Turn left onto Gloucester Gap Rd. and head 2.2 miles to parking. Smoky Mountain Adventure Center: Asheville’s newest climbing gym features a 34-foot high climbing wall that is the first permanent climbing wall in the up and coming River Arts District and is the only lead climbing wall in Asheville. Directions from Asheville: SMAC is located at 173 Amboy Road between the French Broad River Park and Carrier Park. Asheville River Expert: French Broad Outfitters 704 Riverside Dr, Asheville, NC (828) 505-7371 || frenchbroadoutfitters.com Stand Up Paddleboard The French Broad: Most people agree that we spend way too much time sitting around.Thanks to stand up paddleboarding, now you can leave the sitting for another day as you hit the French Broad River standing up on an oversize surfboard that allows paddlers to see Asheville from a different perspective.