A little-known climbing area in Texas is opening its gates to the public for a limited time later this month.For just one weekend, Oct. 24-26, climbers will be allowed access to Inks Ranch, a privately owned, historic cattle property tucked deep in the Texas Hill Country near Llano. Normally closed to the public, the ranch will welcome a limited number of climbers for bouldering, sport, and trad climbing, as well as backcountry-style camping and exploration.Inks Ranch is both a cattle and exotic game ranch that has been owned b...
A little-known climbing area in Texas is opening its gates to the public for a limited time later this month.
For just one weekend, Oct. 24-26, climbers will be allowed access to Inks Ranch, a privately owned, historic cattle property tucked deep in the Texas Hill Country near Llano. Normally closed to the public, the ranch will welcome a limited number of climbers for bouldering, sport, and trad climbing, as well as backcountry-style camping and exploration.
Inks Ranch is both a cattle and exotic game ranch that has been owned by the same family since the 1830s. The owners have agreed to grant limited access to climbers on a small number of weekends each year, allowing them to experience the area's countless boulders, slabs, and cracks. Climbing is allowed on a designated portion of Watch Mountain, also known as "the climbing area."
The temporary access is made possible through a partnership between the ranch's owners and Access Fund, a national nonprofit that works to protect and open climbing areas across the U.S.
"Inks Ranch is a privately owned property with a hidden trove of pink granite boulders and walls," Access Fund notes. "Whether it's cracks for trad climbers, lines for sport climbers, or untouched boulders—Inks Ranch has something for everyone."
The climbing at Inks Ranch features the same pink granite found at nearby Enchanted Rock—but unlike the popular state park, this landscape is almost always off-limits to the public.
This is the first public access weekend at Inks Ranch since April, and only a few more are scheduled: Jan. 30-Feb. 1, Feb. 27-March 1, and March 27-29, all in 2026.
Climbers must reserve spots in advance through Access Fund, and should be prepared for a more remote experience. "Climbers should be self-reliant and competent with route finding, anchor building, and should always ensure that they have a way to descend a climb without leaving gear or tat behind," the group advises.
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