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Elevation: 1,040 ft
GPS: 35.6037, -85.8691
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Shared By: saxfiend on Nov 16, 2006 · Updates
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Description Suggest change

There's probably no place in the southeast that has such a high concentration of great climbing destinations as has Tennessee. Within an hour's drive of Chattanooga alone are eight crags with enough routes to last you a lifetime. And if you ever get tired of Chattanooga, there's plenty of other climbing areas to keep you busy, from Nashville to the west to Knoxville in the east.

Much of the climbing in Tennessee is on the Cumberland Plateau, a 300-mile ridge that stretches into Alabama and Kentucky. The rock is hard, high-quality sandstone, and the terrain can include long crack climbs and overhanging jugfests. The variety is incredible.

Tennessee boasts climbing year-round. In the dead of winter, you'll see climbers on the rock in their t-shirts at such south-facing crags as Tennessee Wall. When summer's at its hottest, Sunset Park is a great destination: its west-facing cliff stays shady until well into the afternoon.

There's plenty to do no matter what your climbing style. For trad leaders, T-Wall and Sunset are the top choices; other trad destinations include Suck Creek Canyon and Prentice Cooper. Sport climbers can clip bolts at Foster Falls and Obed. And there's a little of both at Leda. For the truly adventurous who want to carve out their own routes, there's Big South Fork, a real climbing frontier.

Guidebook Suggest change

For the authoritative guidebook to Tennessee climbing, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the Dixie Cragger's Atlas by Chris Watford. If you plan to spend much time in the state, the DCA should be part of your climbing gear.

Updated guidebooks such as the Chatt Steel and Chattrad cover more recently developed areas such as Deep Creek and Denny Cove among others, in the greater Chattanooga area. 

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3,594 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Tennessee Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Tennessee

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V3-4 6A+
 342
Swingers
Boulder
V4 6B
 495
Super Mario
Boulder
V4 6B
 439
Art of the Vogi
Boulder
V5 6C
 312
Genghis Khan
Boulder
V5 6C
 397
Sternum
Boulder
V6 7A
 299
The Wave
Boulder
V7 7A+
 156
Tennessee Thong
Boulder
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 341
Passages
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a C1
 411
Golden Locks
Trad, Aid
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 251
In Pursuit of Excellence
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 320
Cake Walk
Trad
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 259
Finger Lockin' Good
Trad
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 389
Spawn
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 252
Heresy
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 171
Solstice
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Swingers Stone Fort > Front Area
 342
V3-4 6A+ Boulder
Super Mario Stone Fort > Super Mario/ Cinderel…
 495
V4 6B Boulder
Art of the Vogi Stone Fort > Front Area
 439
V4 6B Boulder
Genghis Khan Stone Fort > Front Area
 312
V5 6C Boulder
Sternum Stone Fort > Central Area
 397
V5 6C Boulder
The Wave Stone Fort > Front Area
 299
V6 7A Boulder
Tennessee Thong Stone Fort > Front Area
 156
V7 7A+ Boulder
Passages Tennessee Wall > T-Wall East
 341
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Golden Locks Tennessee Wall > T-Wall East
 411
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a C1 Trad, Aid
In Pursuit of Excellence Tennessee Wall > T-Wall East
 251
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Cake Walk Tennessee Wall > T-Wall East
 320
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Finger Lockin' Good Tennessee Wall > T-Wall East
 259
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
Spawn Obed & Clear Creek > S Clear Creek > Image Wall
 389
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Heresy Obed & Clear Creek > Lilly Bluff
 252
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Solstice Obed & Clear Creek > S Clear Creek > Solstice Cave
 171
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Tennessee »

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