In Illinois, these daring recreators challenge themselves at state parks, outdoor artificial climbing walls and indoors at 'rock gyms. Danger, fear, challenge, or great fun may be one of your responses. Certainly rock climbing is a sport that encompasses these and many other components.
Rock climbing is also a sport surrounded by misunderstanding and misconceptions.
Climbing stems from the desire to reach places once thought inaccessible due to their height, severity of terrain, or remote location. While these characteristics bring to mind mountainous areas, the sport of rock climbing is not limited to such an area. There are actually two ways this goal can be achieved in and around Illinois. One is to take advantage of the natural areas in Illinois with favorable conditions for the sport of rock climbing. Due to environmental impact and liability, local laws and policies pertaining to climbing areas are constantly changing.