Gold Coast Cliffs  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  21,142. Good page? (2 likes)    Administrators:  saxfiend, Edward Medina, Ryan Williams, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  nbrown on Nov 6, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed 72° | 48° 72° | 54° 73° | 57° 72° | 57° 75° | 57°

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: Overview of the northern end of GCC and the respec...

Description 

There are many broken up cliff lines on the west side of Linville Gorge. The name Gold Coast refers to the section that lies below the Rock Jock Trail. There has been a fair amount of undocumented exploration on these walls over the years. Many of the explorers only made the trip a hand full of times due to the generally heinous approach to these cliffs. One particular party even bushwhacked over from the east side, not realizing that there was a road on the western rim! The recent re-construction of the rock jock trail has influenced the most recent interests in the Gold Coast climbing, and made for some pretty reasonable approaches. This has resulted in some truely classic routes being established in the more recent time frame.

Getting There 

Locate the Kistler Memorial Hwy on the west side of Linville Gorge. Directions below are referenced by driving north on this gravel road.

The best approach to everything from the south end up to Zen Canyon is this:

If driving north on Kistler, park in a small spot on the left (west side of road) 7.2 miles from the beginning of the gravel section. Locate the "drainage ditch" which is the trail head. It should take about 10 minutes to hike down to the RJ this way, as opposed to 35 min if traversing in the whole Rock Jock. Once at the RJ, to get to Razors Edge and Zen access trails turn left. To get to Moonshine and Underworld access trails turn right. Further approach info can be found under the respective canyon access.

If climbing at Bluejay canyon and north the best approach is this:

It is best to hike in from the north end of RJ. Either start at the Conley Cove trailhead and hike south to the intersetcion of the Rock Jock trail (longer way), or park 1/4 mile south of Conely Cove at a faint parking spot located in the steep S curve (there are several spots). The old path is nearly gone but the start can easily be found at a tree with a big X spray painted on it. Walk a minute or less through the woods to the RJ and turn right. There are many smaller cliffs within about 5 minutes from the car. Bluejay is about 20-30 minutes. It is the drainage gully ("canyon") where the trail turns sharply uphill and crosses come large down tree's. Instead of going up, just go down the drainage.

The Classics

Featured Route For Gold Coast Cliffs

Mark of the Beast 5.12c  NC : Linville Gorge : ... : The Underworld

This route has great variety. A crimpy face leads to a tough, steep roof. Sequential climbing on the headwall leads to pumpy jugs. This route is fun and sustained with good flow on great rock. It has some technical steep face climbing, a bit atypical for the cliff. A personal favorite. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in NC

Photos of Gold Coast Cliffs Slideshow

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GB following in Zen Canyon	Eddie following	GB on the red wall
GB	Christian on the Zen Face	Buried Treasure
Razors Edge Canyon	Razors Edge Canyon	A nice seam feature
Jon leading off FA of P-2	A very awkward corner. Still no free ascent yet.	Pitch 1
Lee on the Zen Face	Lee on the Zen Face	Eddie "crack" climbing
Razors Edge Canyon	Not the greatest picture but it's a pretty cool ro...