Climbing

Rock Climbing & Bouldering in Tennessee

Climbing & Conservation

Rock Climbers & Boulderers spend many hours in hard to reach areas of the natural environment. With this unique view, Climbers get a chance to check up on and protect these out of the way places. Climbers can help by adopting these areas, picking up debris at wall bases, the paths that lead to them and the roads that lead to the paths. Climbers are also known to actually "Clean the Rocks" that get alot of use. Next time your hanging on the side of a cliff face or standing on top of your favorite boulder, take a few minutes to visually inspect the area. Report any potential eviro damage, reduce, re-use & recycle!

Sunset Rock - Lookout Mountain

There's no place in the southeast that beats Tennessee when it comes to great rock climbing! A good bit of rock climbing in our state, is done on the Cumberland Plateau, east of Nashville. With 300-miles of ridge stretching from Alabama through Tennessee and into Kentucky, the Cumberland Plateau has incredible variety, hard rock, many long cracks and overhangs. This sport requires physical fitness, endurance and skill, never try this without experienced rock climbing guides!

Rock Climbing Resources

Tennessee Wall With climbs from 50 to 120 feet, Tennessee Wall is one of the Southeast's premier year-round destinations. Composed of firm sandstone with many high-quality cracks. Located in southeastern Tennessee. Good year round.

Sunset Rock Sunset Rock is located on the northwest side of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee atop Lookout Mountain. With 80 foot cliffs and a large flat top, Sunset Rock is quite popular.

South Clear Creek & Lilly Bluff on the famous Obed River Gorge. (big roofs)

Great Stone Door: Grundy County 931-692-3887 (120) miles from Nashville

Prentice Cooper
Leda
Big South Fork

Where to Climb in Tennessee

Indoor Walls
Climb Nashville

Vanderbilt University

Coolsprings Climbing Center

Bouldering in Tennessee

Bouldering: a type of climbing undertaken without the use of a rope, normally limited in the "height" the climber ascends, so that any fall will not risk significant injury. This growing sport offers good times, increased discipline & will strengthen skills.

Associations
Southeastern Climbers Coalition

Featured Rock Climbing Guide

You wouldn't trust a doctor with your life unless he had the proper credentials. Likewise, don't hire a climbing instructor who is not certified and insured. Becknology is a Nashville based outdoor rock climbing guide service. Adam Beck is a climbing instructor who has years of climbing and teaching experience. He has taught rock climbing and ropework at summer camps and in clinics and has been working with children in an outdoor setting since 1998. He has been climbing in several states since the mid 1990s. He holds certifications in Wilderness First Aid and from the American Mountain Guides Association. The rates are very reasonable and they supply the equipment. For more info check out Becknology.com or email Adam Beck.

Triple Crown is a series of bouldering events at three of the premier boulderfields in the Southeast. The series kicked off in the fall at Hound Ears in Boone, NC, moved on to Horse Pens-40 in Steele, AL, and concludes at the Stone Fort in Chattanooga, TN. on December 1st. You can register for the event as a series or for any of the individual comps. See the registration page for detailed information. Register as early as possible, space is limited and this event fills up FAST!

Photo by Andrew Kornylak akornphoto.com

Guides
Becknology Climbing Guide

Granitearches Climbing Guide

Dr. Topo Bouldering Maps
Suck Creek Canyon
Pot Point
Lilly Boulders
Foster Falls

Dixie Cragger's
Atlas
by Chris Watford

The
Tennessee Bouldering Authority climbing gym
3804 St. Elmo Ave. Ste. 102
Chattanooga, TN 37409
423-822-6800
tbagym.com

A group of climbing enthusiasts have created a topographical map website called Dr. Topo. Check out their maps below and movies on bouldering and the wall climbing regionals!