Illinois Climbers Association

07/10/2026

Maybe you come for the climbing, the sea of foam and spotters 🙌 Maybe you come for the community, the friends you get to reconnect with each year 💚 Or maybe you come to win, the glory of standing on the coveted podium 🏆

Whatever you come for, grab your ticket to the 2026 Pilgrimage now ‼️ We’re psyched to host you all again, to rally the community in support of sandstone that is truly the best in the Midwest. As we see crag access in jeopardy across the country, we want to remind you fine folks that supporting the ICA and this event means investing in having your voice heard and your access advocated for (or acquired).

The Pilgrimage just so happens to be the most fun way to do it! So grab those tickets now - the first pricing tier will fly fast, and you need to reserve your spot to the best party of the year. Link in bio.

07/05/2026

Oh, hi! 👋 how about that heatwave? 🥵

We figured we’d celebrate it breaking with a look ahead to the 2026 Pilgrimage, happening on Saturday, October 31st this year! We had so much fun last year that we’re keeping with the Halloween theme and timing. Mark your calendars and set your alarms because tickets are dropping this Friday, July 10th at 9am‼️ We’ll have tiered pricing again, so snag those tickets early for the best deal.

Registration link via Eventbrite will be available in our bio later this week. We’ll also start recruiting volunteers soon, if you want to be a part of the amazing team that brings the event to life.

We’re looking forward to another great weekend with all of you. This year, we’re celebrating 25 years since stage holy boulders were found!! Start dreaming up your costumes now, and just maybe you can dethrone Clippy for best costume. 🎃📎

📸: Kaelyn Condon

06/21/2026

While looking at climbing data documented on Mountain Project, we were recently reminded of the amount of outdoor climbing that exists in Illinois. Did you know there are more than 2,150 documented climbs in the state!? 💚

Across Alto Pass, Cedar Bluff, Dixon Springs State Park, Ferne Clyffe State Park, Fountain Bluff, Giant City State Park, Jackson Falls, Mississippi Palisades, Pere Marquette State Park, Pounds Lake, The Beach, The Graveyard, The Holy Boulders, and The Roost, that includes approximately:

🪨 1,075 boulder problems
🧗 1,080 sport routes

The Illinois Climbers Association’s works to ensure that climbers have access to all of those problems and routes. We do that by working with landowners and land managers, advocating for climbing access, and supporting stewardship efforts at individual crags so these areas remain accessible for current and future generations. 🙌

What’s your favorite boulder problem or sport route in Illinois (and where is it)?👇

06/19/2026

“If there’s something that’s not happening properly, we can jump in and try to make it right, even if it’s just erosion that needs fixing,” Rothe says. “When you’re talking about moving a 300- or 400-pound rock away from an area, there’s skill involved with that and grunt work. That’s a place where the climbing community can really help.”

Read more about the ICA in our St. Louis Magazine feature!

In the minds of many Midwesterners, rock climbing isn’t a local activity. Instead, the sport often evokes visions of ropes along sheer cliffs and near-acrobatic finger holds. Illinois Climbers Association president Doug Rothe knows the perception well. His climbing journey began on a trip to Wyomi...

05/21/2026

We recently attended the Access Fund’s Climbing Advocacy Conference and want to extend a huge thank you to and the .official for putting together such an impactful event! It was an amazing opportunity to connect with other advocates, land managers, and local climbing organizations from across the country who are working to protect and improve climbing access. 🤝

We came away with new ideas, valuable conversations, and a deeper appreciation for the work happening throughout the climbing community. Of course, we also enjoyed some fantastic climbing in the Gorge along the way! 🧗‍♀️🌄

Tell us in the comments: what’s your favorite Illinois climbing area? And what’s one improvement you’d love to see there? 🪨🌳

📸:

05/09/2026

Join us for Technical Rescue From Heights Workshop in Draper's Bluff, Illinois - June 7-13.

Register and see all of our course offerings here - https://fire.ersintl.org/ #/login

05/05/2026

Thanks to everyone who braved the rain to support our annual community meeting last month! 🌧️ 🙌

This year brought substantial progress: trail and parking upgrades at our properties, new routes at Ferne Clyffe, stewardship at Fountain Bluff, invasive species removal at Giant City, and a successful land swap at the Holy Boulders.🌲🪨

Plus, tons of events, a fantastic halloween comp 🎃, and new ICA merch! 🧢 We were also honored to present Jeff Frizzell with our ICA Legends Award.🏆

Big things are coming this year including a campaign to support infrastructure at the Gallery at Jackson Falls. Let’s keep building and caring for the places we climb! 💚

04/20/2026

🌎This Wednesday, you can contribute to the conservation of outdoor climbing areas in Illinois by getting a day pass at Horizon Climbing! 50% of day pass sales ALL DAY will be donated to the (ICA). Plus, the ICA will be at Horizon after 5pm! Come chat with them, learn about their work, and see how you can get involved too. You can also donate directly to the ICA through their website!

04/16/2026

🚨exclusive merch drop🚨

Maybe you’ve already got your hands on a Holy Boulders topo hat, or maybe you’ve been waiting for one of your favorite sport crags to drop.

Get one of our exclusive Jackson Falls topo hats this weekend at our Community Meeting (details in previous post). Rain or shine, we’ve got a fun evening planned with games, snacks, and trivia. See you there! 👋

04/14/2026

Midwest represent 🤝