Happy Rocks: Bouldering at HP40 Trip

Get Outside with Outdoor Adventures (OA)! Whether you're a thrill-seeker or just really like rocks, you're welcome here! No experience needed—but be warned, once you try one trip, you might get hooked!
 

Climbing is one of our all-time favorite activities, and we’re excited to take you bouldering outside on real rock at the stunning Horse Pens 40! This location is renowned as one of the best bouldering destinations in the Eastern U.S.! Mark your calendars for Saturday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026—you won’t want to miss this rocktastic adventure!

Here’s the plan: Saturday – Hit the road to Steele, Alabama, set up camp, climb a little, and enjoy a cozy campfire and eat S'mores; Sunday - Wake up and climb until it's time to leave! We’ll be camping in HP40 so accessing the boulders are very easy - the campgrounds have bathrooms and plenty of space to explore. Our gear is made for chilly weather, so even if it's still a tad cold, we will be prepared!

Every trip is led by at least two trained OA staff or volunteers, with transportation included. All other details—like what’s provided and what to bring—will be in the trip itinerary. It’s your responsibility to read it thoroughly so you know what to expect.

Check out the trip's full itinerary here!

Who can join? All UWF students, faculty, and staff are welcome to participate! Each UWF member also gets one “plus one,” meaning a non-UWF friend or family member can join too. To get your guest set up, they’ll need an OA Plus One Membership. To get your guest access to this free, year-long OA Plus One Membership, just email OA—even if they already have a RecWell account. This membership is only available through OA and isn’t offered anywhere else. Once it’s added, your guest will be able to register and join you on OA trips!

Payment Policy: Full payment is required at registration unless a deposit option is available. A 7% University processing fee will be deducted from all personal refunds. Refund requests must be submitted by the deadline—typically 14 days before the trip or event, unless stated otherwise. After the deadline, you’ll need to contact OA directly with your reason for withdrawing; full refunds at that point are not guaranteed and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If a trip is canceled due to weather or low participation, you’ll have the option to keep your spot for the rescheduled date or receive a full refund. Waitlist Policy: If a spot becomes available, the first person on the waitlist will be moved to the active roster.

Have questions? Email us at outdooradventure@uwf.edu or call 850.474.2819 / 850.474.2204

*Fun Fact: The base cost of this trip—HP40 climbing fee ($22), camping ($22), and transportation ($120)—totals about $144. And that doesn’t even include camping and climbing gear OA is providing! Just the camping equipment alone can cost hundreds. By going with OA, you’re saving at least about $100, even if you already own your own climbing and camping gear!