A rock climber at Section 13 on the North Shore
A rock climber at Section 13 on the North Shore / Credit: Kyle Ellefson, courtesy of Minnesota Climbers Association

Everything You Need to Know About Ice, Rock and Indoor Climbing in Minnesota

By Sean Foster & Peter Lenz

Minnesota is packed with outdoor recreation opportunities — from mountain biking to ice fishing — yet climbing remains one of the state’s most overlooked pursuits. Whether scaling rock in summer, tackling ice in winter, or training indoors year-round, this guide covers everything you need to know to get started.

What is climbing?

Climbing takes many forms, and Minnesota is home to them all. From rugged rock faces and frozen waterfalls to indoor gyms that make the sport accessible year-round, climbing offers something for every season and skill level.

At its core, climbing is the pursuit of moving upward using both body and mind. It challenges strength, balance and problem-solving, while rewarding climbers with unforgettable views, a deep sense of accomplishment and a welcoming community built on shared effort and encouragement.

What are some common types?

Climbing difficulty is defined by a series of grades unique to each discipline, many of which are represented throughout the state.

  • Bouldering is rock climbing without ropes, usually at lower heights, relying on movable crash pads to cushion potential falls.
  • Top roping involves climbing with a rope secured to a high anchor point. One partner climbs while another belays, managing the rope from below.
  • Sport climbing is a form of free climbing in which climbers clip their rope into pre-installed bolts as they ascend. Like top roping, it requires a belay partner.
  • Traditional (trad) climbing requires climbers to place removable protection into cracks and features in the rock as they climb, clipping the rope into those placements along the way.
  • Ice climbing can be done in a top-rope or trad style, with the added challenge of ascending frozen waterfalls and human-made ice formations.

What are the best places to climb in Minnnesota?

With so many disciplines to choose from, climbing opportunities can be found in nearly every corner of the state. Here are some favorites, broken down by discipline.

A rock climber on Palisade Head
A rock climber on Palisade Head / Credit: Taylor Krosbakker, courtesy of Minnesota Climbers Association

Rock Climbing

Each of the destinations below features distinct rock formations set within some of Minnesota’s most striking landscapes. From Lake Superior’s cliff-lined shoreline to prairie quartzite and Mississippi River bluffs, new adventures await across the state.

Climber Ted Kryzer on Palisade Head
Climber Ted Kryzer on Palisade Head / Credit: Mountain Project

  1. Blue Mounds State Park, Luverne

    A couple hikers stand atop the quartzite at Blue Mounds State Park
    A couple hikers stand atop the quartzite at Blue Mounds State Park / Credit: Paul Vincent

    Thisout-of-the-way destination offers bouldering, top-rope and trad climbing on Sioux quartzite, paired with sweeping prairie views.

  2. Duluth

    Duluth Climbers Coalition
    Credit: Duluth Climbers Coalition

    Duluth may seem like an unlikely climbing destination, but granite outcroppings are woven throughout the city, creating rare access to climbing in an urban setting.

  3. He Mni Can-Barn Bluff, Red Wing

    He Mni Can, a.k.a. Barn Bluff
    He Mni Can, a.k.a. Barn Bluff / Credit: City of Red Wing

    Located in Red Wing, He Mni Can-Barn Bluff boasts the highest concentration of sport climbing in Minnesota, with routes ranging from 5.6 to 5.14, plus a handful of trad climbs.

  4. Interstate State Park, Taylors Falls

    A rock climber at Interstate State Park
    A rock climber at Interstate State Park / Credit: Devils Lake Climbing Guides

    Spanning the Minnesota-Wisconsin border along the St. Croix River, this park offers basalt bouldering, top roping and trad climbing amid forested crags and dramatic river views.

  5. Robinson Park & Eldon Boulders, Sandstone

    A rock climber in Sandstone, Minnesota
    A rock climber in Sandstone, Minnesota

    These beloved areas offer year-round climbing in all disciplines. Robinson Park is best known for winter ice climbing and sport routes, while Eldon Boulders across the Kettle River provide Minnesota’s finest sandstone bouldering.

  6. Sugar Loaf Bluff, Winona

    A climber on Sugar Loaf Bluff
    A climber on Sugar Loaf Bluff / Credit: Big River Climbing

    With expansive views of Winona and the Mississippi River, Sugar Loaf Bluff offers some of the most accessible sport climbing in the state, with routes ranging from 5.3 to 5.11.

  7. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay

    A couple climbers at Tettegouche State Park
    A couple climbers at Tettegouche State Park

    Often considered the crown jewel of Minnesota rope climbing, Tettegouche State Park features two lakeside crags — Shovel Point and Palisade Head — overlooking Lake Superior.

Ice Climbing

Minnesota is home to some of the best human-made ice climbing in the country. Ice parks are maintained by dedicated volunteers who create climbable ice formations using irrigation systems during cold-weather months.

Winona's Ice Climbing Festival
Winona's Ice Climbing Festival / Credit: Paul Vincent

  1. Quarry Park, Duluth

    Ice climbing at Quarry Park
    Ice climbing at Quarry Park / Credit: Minnesota Climbers Association

    A former quarry turned prime ice-and-mixed climbing destination within the city limits, offering dramatic views of Lake Superior.

  2. Sandstone Ice Park, Sandstone

    Ice climbing Robinson Park in Sandstone
    Ice climbing in Sandstone

    Located along the Kettle River in Robinson Park, this site features a mix of natural and human-made ice for climbers of all experience levels.

  3. Winona Ice Park

    A traveler tries ice climbing for the first time in Winona
    A beginner tries ice climbing for the first time in Winona / Credit: Paul Vincent

    Situated in Sugar Loaf Park, this ice park offers climbing with sweeping views of the Driftless Area and the Mississippi River.

Indoor Climbing

Indoor climbing serves as both a gateway to outdoor pursuits and a discipline in its own right. Gyms provide year-round access, community building, and training opportunities — especially valuable during Minnesota winters. 

Routes are frequently reset, creating constantly evolving challenges. Indoor climbing is also featured in the Olympics and international competitions. 

Minnesota has a proud history of indoor climbing. Vertical Endeavors operates multiple locations offering top roping, sport climbing and bouldering, including popular outposts in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth. 

The Minneapolis branch of the national Bouldering Project chain focuses on large-scale bouldering and includes fitness classes and saunas. 

Minnesota Climbing Cooperative is a volunteer-run bouldering co-op in Northeast Minneapolis, while Roca Climbing & Fitness serves climbers in Rochester.

Minnesota Climbing Cooperative
Credit: Minnesota Climbing Cooperative

Climbing Communities & Events

Minnesota climbers are known for their strong sense of community. From ice climbing festivals and gym competitions to outdoor stewardship events, there are countless ways to connect. 

Start here: 

Further Reading

MN & WI Bouldering Guidebook
MN & WI Bouldering Guidebook

Guidebooks

Guiding Services

Find out more about ice climbing and read more outdoor recreation guides. 

Duluth Climbers Coalition
Duluth Climbers Coalition / Credit: Alex Messenger
Sean Foster & Peter Lenz

As a proud resident of Minneapolis, Sean Foster is currently a regional director for Bouldering Project, a former board member of the Minnesota Climbers Association, and a former organizer of the Twin Cities Rock Climbing Meetup. Sean enjoys all disciplines of rock climbing and is an avid disc golfer.

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Peter Lenz enjoys all the outdoor recreation Minnesota has to offer. He is a current board member of the Minnesota Climbers Association and is the director of Sandstone Ice Climbing Park. Peter revels in all forms of cycling from winter fat biking to backroad gravel rides. When not exploring Minnesota by bike, climbing rocks or icicles, Peter is on a perpetual search for the state’s best tofu spring rolls.