crag

Crag is a geographic term describing a steep, rugged rock face or cliff that rises prominently from its surroundings. A crag may be an isolated outcrop on a hillside, a coastal sea cliff, or a high rock face on a mountain. Crags commonly consist of resistant bedrock exposed by weathering and erosion, and their surfaces are often broken by cracks, ledges, and scree. They vary in height from small bluffs to sheer precipices hundreds of meters tall. Weathering processes such as freeze–thaw cycles and chemical weathering help shape crags, while glaciation can carve and leave cragged forms. Crags also create distinct microhabitats, with lichens, mosses, and hardy plants in crevices and ledges, and birds may nest on ledges and cliff faces.

In outdoor recreation, the term crag is widely used by climbers and hikers to designate a specific rock face suitable for climbing. A crag can host sport climbing routes, traditional routes, bouldering areas, or mixed terrain, and its accessibility and rock type influence the gear and techniques used. In geology and geomorphology, crags are indicators of bedrock resistance and past erosional history; related forms include cliff faces, crags along coastlines, and crag-and-tail formations produced by glacial erosion.

In place names, crag appears as a descriptor for rocky features and may appear in hill or valley names. Safety considerations for crags include rockfall, loose rock, and weather exposure, especially on inland or coastal cliffs.