Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
An Official Pennsylvania Government Website
Translate
Begin Main Content Area

Rock Climbing at Ralph Stover State Park

Cliff access is for technical rock climbing only

Climbing safety equipment is required in the High Rocks Climbing Area. Your safety is your responsibility. The park does not maintain fixed anchors and hardware, cliff faces, or climbing routes for climber safety.

Cell service throughout the park is unreliable. In case of emergency, call 911 from cell or emergency phone located in parking area.

The cliffs and trails at High Rocks are a joint ownership by the state of Pennsylvania and Bucks County. Within Ralph Stover and Tohickon Valley parks, the cliff faces are made of a common Bucks County rock, red Brunswick shale, which formed along an ancient fault line. The scenic overlooks of the Tohickon Creek Gorge at High Rocks Vista offer fantastic views of the creek flowing below, which splits Ralph Stover State Park in two.

Ranging from 30 ft to 150 ft high and extending about ¾ mile long, High Rocks offers close to 100 climbing routes consisting mostly of top rope and traditional climbing. Some areas along the trail closer to the creek edge may be conducive to bouldering.

Placing additional fixed hardware or anchors is prohibited unless approved by park management.

Since High Rocks is one of the premier climbing areas in eastern Pennsylvania, the High Rocks parking lot at 150 Tory Road in Pipersville, PA is often full. Parking along Tory Road outside of the parking lot is prohibited and will result in ticketing and/or towing at owners expense. Trails to access the scenic overlooks and climbing areas start across the road from the parking lot.

Additional parking is nearby in the day use area of Ralph Stover State Park or at Tohickon Valley Park, which also provides an interconnected trail system leading to the cliff faces.

The day use area of Ralph Stover State Park at 6011 State Park Road, Pipersville, PA includes:

  • Picnic tables
  • Pavilions
  • Playground
  • Access to fishing
  • Whitewater boating, when conditions permit

From the day use area, the cliff faces can be reached via a moderately steep, one mile hike on Stover Park Road and then High Rocks Trail.

State park educators offer occasional introduction to rock climbing courses open to the public. For more information about these and other educational opportunities at Ralph Stover State Park, visit the calendar of events.