THE HOUSE BOULDERS

The House Boulders are located on the western edge of the Shawnee National Forest in the Mississippi Bluffs region. They sit adjacent to the Holy Boulders and share the same high-quality, fine-grained sandstone. However, the House Boulders stand alone in their unique setting — a tightly stacked boulder field on a steep, west-facing hillside nestled among hardwoods.

 

 In the fall of 2020, the ICA heard that the property was up for sale. After connecting with the landowner, we reached out to Access Fund for financial backing through their Climbing Conservation Loan Program. We bought the property for recreation and conservation for $90,000 using a $80,600 loan from the Access Fund in fall of 2021. While a handful of people climbed on the property with landowner permission in the past, the ICA's purchase secured permanent climbing access for all!

 

In December of 2023, the ICA completed loan payments on the property and obtained full ownership of the House Boulders. Our acquisition conserved 20 acres of land with the potential for approximately 70 boulder problems at all levels for recreation and wildlife habitat. We have since built more than half a mile of new trail to provide sustainable access to the boulders.

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Access Details

The ICA built a proper parking area for the House Boulders at the trailhead off of Hutchins Creek Road. Search for "House Boulders Parking" on Google Maps or look for our green street sign that says House Boulders!