For many years, the sport of bouldering was lost in the category of rock climbing, despite the obvious differences between the two. It wasn’t until the 1960s that American mathematician John Gill introduced several innovations that worked to distinguish the sport from traditional climbing. He had previously analyzed the body movements that went into gymnastics and applied his thoughts to bouldering and how the body moves to work around problems on the rock face. Rather than looking at how climbers reach the greatest height, he figured out how they work around challenges on boulders. Unlike most climbing where someone is secured to the rock via safety harnesses, bouldering has limited security other than a mat people place under their climbing route to brace a fall. Check out our list of some of the best bouldering destinations in the world.

Fontainebleau, France

Located less than an hour south of Paris, this hot spot attracts climbers from all over the world. Most of the climbing areas are located in the forests that surround Fontainebleau, which Climb Europe called a “magical and unique setting.” The sandstone rock is durable to climb and has been a climbing ground for more than a century. According to professional climber Paul Robinson, climbing here is ingrained in the culture and it’s common to see entire families participating in the sport together. The surrounding land is mostly flat and agriculture is the business of the area, so the difference between the towns and the forests can seem quite drastic. “Trees, ferns, and moss reflect the light differently at all hours of the day. There is also a ton of wildlife—if you are lucky, it is possible to see a wild boar during your climbing day,” Robinson told Outside. The best time to visit Fontainebleau is between late October and the middle of March, but keep in mind that rain is common. Check out a map of the best bouldering locations in the area. 

Rocklands, South Africa

This bouldering location is within the Cederberg Mountain Range, which is about three hours north of Cape Town. The climbing there is regarded as in the easy to moderate range, but there are several areas that require expert knowledge. According to Robinson, “The climbing in South Africa is like a dream. The rock is bulletproof, orange-and-grey sandstone and is generally very featured, with plenty of hand holds.” The best time to make a trip is between the winter months of May and early September, because the 45- to 70-degrees Fahrenheit temperatures are the best for strenuous outdoor activities. However, this past July a letter written by Delaney Carpenter—Cape Town Section Chairperson of the Mountain Club of the South Africa Rock Climbing Committee—detailed access restriction in the area. The area is jointly owned by four farmers and Cape Nature, but this was not effectively communicated to the public when the region grew as a bouldering attraction. Now, the environment has been damaged because of a lack of respect and disregard for the program that was put in place. According to the letter, “All land belonging to one of the farmers has as of June 28, 2013 been closed to climbing; this includes Tea Garden and all areas from Klein Kliphuis down to Clanwilliam on both sides of the road.”

Bishop, California

The town of Bishop sits on the eastern slope of the lower Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, housing what is considered to be one of the best bouldering locations in the world. There are three main areas to check out—Happy Boulders, Sad Boulders, and Buttermilk Country. The first two have similar terrains and are in canyons, but Buttermilks’ granite boulders are out in the open and stand as tall as 50 feet, which can be somewhat intimidating for climbers who aren’t yet at the expert level. “More than 2,000 problems on two principal rock types provide a range of options from the pocketed Bishop tuff of the Volcanic Tableland and Sherwin Plateau, to the generally crimpier though occasionally friction-y quartz monzonite in the Buttermilk Country,” Bishop Bouldering wrote on its website. The best time to visit is between October and late April, at least for Buttermilks, because the rock heats up quickly during the warmer months and is painful to even touch.

Ticino, Switzerland

Thousands of people travel to this bouldering destination each year, but keep in mind that most of the climbing is described as being in the moderate to difficult range. Located about an hour and a half north of Milan, Italy, boulderers flock to Cresciano, Chironico, the Gotthard Pass, the Verzasca Valley, and the Bavona Valley, to name a few. According to Ticino’s website, “World-class boulder climbers have regularly visited Ticinese locations conquering some of the most difficult and famous boulder routes in the world. The excellent quality of its boulders, the vast selection among routes of different grades, the uncontaminated and beautiful natural surroundings and the publication of specific guidebooks illustrating in great detail, the approaches, routes and difficulties have turned Ticinese locations into real hot spots for practicing Bouldering.” It is recommended to plan a trip between October and late March because the conditions are the best, as long as the amount of snow is limited. Remember to wear warm clothes, as the temperatures can be extremely low during these months.

Ozark Mountains, Arkansas

Deep within the forests of northern Arkansas are boulders that Robinson said are made of “impeccable sandstone that seems to have been built for climbing.” The majority of the climbing is near Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, which provides accommodations for people who want to stay and relax for a few days. Robinson said this is a great choice for groups that include people of all skill levels, as there are simple climbs as well as other he regarded as some of the most challenging in the country. “As the Ozarks are located in an area with a very low population density, it is uncommon to see more than one group of climbers out at the boulders on any given day,” he said. The best time to visit is between October and March because of both the ideal temperatures and the lack of bugs.

Image from Großer on the Wikimedia Commons