A climber campusing out the roof of a huge orange sandstone boulder at Rocklands
Explore · The areas

The Rocklands sectors

Rocklands · photo Dana Rader, CC BY 2.0

Nobody just says "Rocklands" — they say 8 Day Rain, or Sassies, or Danger Zone. Here's the lay of the land, and which basecamp each sector sits near.

SectorKnown forNearest basecamp
8 Day RainSteep overhangs and dynos; wildflowers in the winter bloomTraveller's Rest / de Pakhuys
SassiesSmall sector, classic quality lines — a must-seeTraveller's Rest
Danger ZoneA Rocklands classic, close to the roadTraveller's Rest
Eland CampSpread-out area, plenty to go atTraveller's Rest
RoadsideOne of the first areas developed (Fred Nicole, 1996); quick accessPakhuis Pass
The PlateauCentral, high area with long days of climbingde Pakhuys
CampgroundRight by the Kliphuis campsite — roll out of the tentKliphuis

Sector names and locations per the community guides (theCrag, Mountain Project). Grades across Rocklands run from friendly warm-ups to the hardest boulders in the country.

The sectors, in brief

8 Day Rain steep · overhangs & dynos

Named after an eight-day storm that pinned the first climbers here in 2007. Steep, powerful climbing, and — in the June-to-August bloom — set among wildflower meadows. The sector straddles the Traveller's Rest and de Pakhuys farms.

Sassies compact · classic quality

A small sector that punches well above its size — a tight cluster of classic, high-quality lines that most people put on the must-do list. Close to Traveller's Rest.

Danger Zone & Eland Camp near Traveller's Rest

Two of the sectors effectively on the Traveller's Rest doorstep — a big part of why it's such a popular basecamp. Plenty of quality across the grades.

Roadside quick access · historic

One of the first areas developed, by Fred Nicole from 1996. Right on the Pakhuis Pass, so the walk-in is short — a good bet when the weather's marginal or the day is short.

The Plateau central · long days

The high, central area in front of de Pakhuys, with enough climbing for full days. A natural choice if you're based at de Pakhuys or Alpha Excelsior.

Coming soon — visual topos

Photo topos of the key blocs, shot for this site, are on the way. Until then, use the apps below — we won't reprint anyone else's topos.

For the problems & grades

Get the beta from the guidebook.

Rocklands has 3,000+ problems, and the people who bolted, brushed and documented them wrote the guidebook and built the apps. For topos, grades and tick-lists, go to the source — and if you climb here, buy the guidebook.

Which basecamp for which sectors?

If you want the classic sectors on your doorstep — Sassies, 8 Day Rain, Danger Zone, Eland Camp — base at Traveller's Rest. For The Plateau and the central areas, de Pakhuys and Alpha Excelsior sit right below them. Wherever you land, it's all a short drive on the same Pakhuis Pass road.

Last updated August 2026 · an overview only — the guidebook and apps have the detail