Amphitheater  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  78,339. Good page? (2 likes)    Administrators:  saxfiend, Edward Medina, Ryan Williams, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  saxfiend on Oct 14, 2006 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 82° | 61° 73° | 61° 77° | 54° 68° | 36° 68° | 43°

2013 Closure in effect MORE INFO >>> Effective January 2013, All areas between and including Tightrope and Bumblebee Buttress are closed due to local falcon population This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment 2013 Closures MORE INFO >>> Big Lost Cove Cliffs are closed to climbing due to the local falcon population This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

BETA PHOTO: Mummy buttress in the Amphitheater

Description 

The word "spectacular" could have been coined just so you could describe the Amphitheater. Combine long, moderate multi-pitch climbing, high-quality rock, fantastic exposure and take-your-breath-away views, and you've got some of the best climbing North Carolina has to offer. The Mummy and The Daddy are two of the highlights of the Amphitheater; both are must-do routes even if your lead level is much higher.

Getting to the base is a long, hard slog down a steep descent gully, so most climbers rack up before starting down. Stow your pack and other non-essential stuff at the big flat rock near where the gully starts (ask someone who's been there), then retrieve it on the walk-off from the top of the climb.

Getting There 

From the Table Rock parking lot, head south through the campground and along the ridgeline trail. Continue past the Chimneys and past the first cut-off trail to the right (this leads to North Carolina Wall). Watch for a white quartz rock on the trailside and take the cut-off trail to the right. Continue down this trail as it steepens and look for a split-off to the left near a large flat rock. This turns into the descent gully; downclimb this steep gully to the base of the Amphitheater. The Mummy Buttress is to your left, the Prow and Open Book to the right.

The Classics

Featured Route For Amphitheater

Turkey Beard 5.12a  NC : Linville Gorge : Amphitheater

Climb (or aid) through the Open Book first pitch until you can bail right on the ledge. Might be good to belay on Open Book and then move the belay. Fire up the obvious crack to a bolt-protected move up high. Clip a pin, compose yourself for the lichen-mantle at the top, and bask in the glory that is Linville Gorge climbing. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in NC

Photos of Amphitheater Slideshow

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BETA PHOTO: The Mummy and The Daddy (topo)	Mummy Buttress in the fall.	The Amphitheater from RJ trail
BETA PHOTO: Rapping down the descent gully into the Amphitheat...	The Prow of the Amphitheater. The descent gully i...	BETA PHOTO: The Amphitheater
The Amphitheater and the Linville River	BETA PHOTO: Getting there: Look for this quartzite rock on the...