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Table Rock

N Carolina > 2. Northern Mou… > Linville Gorge

Description

Table Rock sits high on the eastern ridge of Linville Gorge. It commands a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape of western North Carolina.

This is a very popular destination for beginners and there is a tourist trail to the summit. There is a road that ends very close to the climbing area as well. These factors combine to create a rather circus-like atmosphere at times.

Despite that, Table Rock can be a fun, relaxing experience if approached with good judgement and knowledge.

Getting There

From the parking lot, take the trail north (toward Table Rock: the big cliff you can see from the bathrooms). After about 5 min (0.25 mi), you will see a 3 foot high Rock wall on the right (made from really big rocks) turn right up this trail. Then after about 1 min (50 yards), you will see the first trail on your left; only take this to get to "The South End" routes ("Fresh Garbage" through "Two Pitch").

Keep going straight for "The East Face" routes ("Blood, Sweat and Tears" through "My Route") and "The North End" routes ("Second Stanza" through "Devil's Cellar Chimney".

After about 7 min (part of which you will be walking right next to the cliff on your left) you will arrive at 3 railroad tie steps; right above these are the bases of "Jim Dandy" and "Peek-a-Boo".

If you keep going, the trail will steepen; after about 8 min the trail will bring you to a 6 foot high scramble up through a little chimney formed by the cliff on your left and a huge boulder on your right. Right before this chimney is the base of "The Cave Route".

After scrambling up through that little chimney, the trail will curve to the left and then really steepen into a 4th class scramble up about 30 feet, which will bring you to "the Lunch Ledge" to the left, and "The North End" routes ("Second Stanza" through "Devil's Cellar Chimney") to the right.

On "the Lunch Ledge", the cliff will be on your right, and the first route you will come to is the base of "My Route" 5.6, then keep going to access the base of the 3rd pitch of "The Cave Route".

Where to Stay

Hostels and Hotels

Harmony Hostel

in Banner Elk, NC welcomes climbers.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 15
● Fresh Garbage
Trad 2 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 90
● Crackerjack
Trad 2 pitches
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 1
● Helios
Trad 2 pitches
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 1
● Lateral Inhibition
Trad 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 17
● Hanging High
Trad 3 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 4
● Mourning Maiden
Trad 2 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 1
● Iron Maiden
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 6
● Indecent exposure
Trad 2 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 2
● Center Stage
Trad 2 pitches
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 1
● Solar Plexus
Trad 2 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 1
● Sideshow
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 2
● Warm Up Route
Trad
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 2
● Cool-down route
Trad, Sport
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 24
● Two Pitch
Trad 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 1
● Arcanum Arete
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 1
● Arcanum Direct
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 2
● Consolation Prize
Sport
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 2
● Hobbling Hobbit
Trad
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 1
● Hobble and Gobble
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 11
● Emily’s Route
Trad
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 1
● Talking about Mudflaps, My Baby'…
Trad 2 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 1
● Pons of Catalonia
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 1
● Bob Box Memorial Buttress
Trad 3 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 2
● Lichen or Not
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 4
● Wampus Cat
Trad
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 5
● Merrie-Woode
Trad 2 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
 16
● Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Trad
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 34
● The Honeymoon
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 46
● Rip Van Winkle
Trad 4 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 49
● Tall Climb to Be Good On
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13
 1
● Junior's Last Laugh
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 87
● Hidden Crack
Trad 4 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 2
● Crushed Velvet
Trad
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 50
● Cornsnake Crack
Trad, Sport 2 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 26
● Wooly Aphid
Trad 2 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 0
● Aphid in My Pants
Trad 2 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 8
● Peek-a-Boo Direct
Trad 2 pitches
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 148
● Peek-a-Boo
Trad 3 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 6
● Stukas over Disneyland
Trad
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 345
● Jim Dandy
Trad 3 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 87
● Skip to My Lou
Trad 2 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 58
● Helmet Buttress
Trad 3 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 24
● Helmet Variation
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 113
● Slippin' into Darkness
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13
 43
● What's Up Doc?
Trad, Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 2
● ICU
Trad
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b PG13
 1
● Irish Stout
Trad, Sport
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 8
● Just Say Moo
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 29
● Ellie Raynolds Memorial Buttress
Trad 3 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 14
● K-Mart Special
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 1
● The Trundler
Trad
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 202
● Cave Route
Trad 3 pitches
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 2
● Peterbuilt
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 8
● Champ's Route
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 7
● Field's Direct
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 278
● My Route
Trad 2 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c PG13
 1
● Refrain
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 69
● Second Stanza
Trad 4 pitches
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 7
● Excess Reality
Trad 2 pitches
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 4
● Alternate Reality
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 10
● Waste A Bit
Trad
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 233
● White Lightning
Trad 2 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 3
● White Light
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 6
● White Heat
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 3
● Tankslapper
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 4
● Rapid Transit
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 4
● Keep and Arm Bears
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 1
● The Tower Traverse
Trad
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 329
● North Ridge
Trad 3 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 14
● Devil's Cellar Chimney
Trad 2 pitches
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 4
● Devil's Lettuce
Trad, TR
V1+ 5
 1
● Spider Hole
Boulder
V1-2 5
 1
● Hard rock
Boulder
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 4
● Horsefly
TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Fresh Garbage
 15
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
● Crackerjack
 90
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 2 pitches
● Helios
 1
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad 2 pitches
● Lateral Inhibition
 1
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Trad 2 pitches
● Hanging High
 17
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 3 pitches
● Mourning Maiden
 4
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
● Iron Maiden
 1
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
● Indecent exposure
 6
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad 2 pitches
● Center Stage
 2
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad 2 pitches
● Solar Plexus
 1
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Trad 2 pitches
● Sideshow
 1
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
● Warm Up Route
 2
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
● Cool-down route
 2
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad, Sport
● Two Pitch
 24
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad 2 pitches
● Arcanum Arete
 1
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
● Arcanum Direct
 1
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad
● Consolation Prize
 2
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
● Hobbling Hobbit
 2
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad
● Hobble and Gobble
 1
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad
● Emily’s Route
 11
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Talking about Mudflaps, My…
 1
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad 2 pitches
● Pons of Catalonia
 1
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
● Bob Box Memorial Buttress
 1
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 3 pitches
● Lichen or Not
 2
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Wampus Cat
 4
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● Merrie-Woode
 5
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad 2 pitches
● Blood, Sweat, and Tears
 16
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 Trad
● The Honeymoon
 34
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Rip Van Winkle
 46
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 4 pitches
● Tall Climb to Be Good On
 49
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
● Junior's Last Laugh
 1
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13 Trad
● Hidden Crack
 87
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 4 pitches
● Crushed Velvet
 2
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
● Cornsnake Crack
 50
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, Sport 2 pitches
● Wooly Aphid
 26
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
● Aphid in My Pants
 0
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad 2 pitches
● Peek-a-Boo Direct
 8
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
● Peek-a-Boo
 148
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad 3 pitches
● Stukas over Disneyland
 6
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
● Jim Dandy
 345
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad 3 pitches
● Skip to My Lou
 87
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 2 pitches
● Helmet Buttress
 58
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 3 pitches
● Helmet Variation
 24
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Slippin' into Darkness
 113
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
● What's Up Doc?
 43
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13 Trad, Sport
● ICU
 2
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
● Irish Stout
 1
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b PG13 Trad, Sport
● Just Say Moo
 8
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport
● Ellie Raynolds Memorial But…
 29
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad 3 pitches
● K-Mart Special
 14
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
● The Trundler
 1
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
● Cave Route
 202
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad 3 pitches
● Peterbuilt
 2
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Sport
● Champ's Route
 8
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● Field's Direct
 7
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● My Route
 278
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 2 pitches
● Refrain
 1
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c PG13 Trad
● Second Stanza
 69
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 4 pitches
● Excess Reality
 7
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
● Alternate Reality
 4
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
● Waste A Bit
 10
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad
● White Lightning
 233
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 2 pitches
● White Light
 3
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● White Heat
 6
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
● Tankslapper
 3
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
● Rapid Transit
 4
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad
● Keep and Arm Bears
 4
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
● The Tower Traverse
 1
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● North Ridge
 329
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad 3 pitches
● Devil's Cellar Chimney
 14
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 2 pitches
● Devil's Lettuce
 4
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR
● Spider Hole
 1
V1+ 5 Boulder
● Hard rock
 1
V1-2 5 Boulder
● Horsefly
 4
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a TR

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The Chimmneys anchor rings
[Hide Photo] The Chimmneys anchor rings
Near base of Peek-a-Boo. It's to the left of him up a short scramble about 20 feet. He is standing right at the base of Jim Dandy. <br> These 3 wooden steps are the only wooden steps on the trail for Table Rock, so they are a good landmark for finding other routes.
[Hide Photo] Near base of Peek-a-Boo. It's to the left of him up a short scramble about 20 feet. He is standing right at the base of Jim Dandy. These 3 wooden steps are the only wooden steps on the trail for…
Red is lightning ledge, blue is lunch ledge, with R Block Route/Cave Route and L My Route, pink is Jim Dandy to Lunch ledge, green is peekaboo to lightning ledge with p3 avoiding the steep bulge.
[Hide Photo] Red is lightning ledge, blue is lunch ledge, with R Block Route/Cave Route and L My Route, pink is Jim Dandy to Lunch ledge, green is peekaboo to lightning ledge with p3 avoiding the steep bulge.
Table Rock as seen from The Chimneys/Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
[Hide Photo] Table Rock as seen from The Chimneys/Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
Ice climbing Devil Cellar at Table Rock, North Carolina. Thanks @karstendelap for the photos.
[Hide Photo] Ice climbing Devil Cellar at Table Rock, North Carolina. Thanks @karstendelap for the photos.
Devils Cellar Highline (Mike Holley, 2009)
[Hide Photo] Devils Cellar Highline (Mike Holley, 2009)
Halfway up CrackerJack
[Hide Photo] Halfway up CrackerJack
South side of Table Rock from the parking lot.
[Hide Photo] South side of Table Rock from the parking lot.
Table Rock with The Gorge & Shortoff from Hawksbill
[Hide Photo] Table Rock with The Gorge & Shortoff from Hawksbill
Cold on top of table rock
[Hide Photo] Cold on top of table rock
Me at the second belay station on Second Stanza. About to second the third pitch.
[Hide Photo] Me at the second belay station on Second Stanza. About to second the third pitch.
East Face of Table Rock
[Hide Photo] East Face of Table Rock

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

H2O
[Hide Comment] Climbed Table Rock East Face this weekend, climbed Jim Dandy and started Cave Route (weather turned us around). The Selected Climbs in NC guide book is not entirely accurate on how to get to the climbing areas (South, East and North Faces). First off, there are no knee high railroad ties on the left side in which to turn right. It is the first trail you come to when you exit the parking lot along the MST trail, it is about .25 miles and looks like a switch back, once on this trail you will see a railroad tie on the right side about 50 ft from the intersection, but you can't see the ties from the trail intersection. From there the guide book is correct. I included a grid for Jim Dandy (on the Jim Dandy page) as a start point reference for all other climbs on the East face. Below is a grid coord for the trail intersection in which to turn to head to Table Rock South, East, and North face climbing areas.

N 35 Deg, 53 min, 17.1 sec
W 081 Deg, 53 min, 06.3 sec

Enjoy and hope this helps Oct 9, 2012
Ben Martelino
alpharetta
[Hide Comment] trying to plan a trip up to table on memorial weekend does anyone know if climbing will be allowed during that time? looking to hit cave route and some of the other 5.5-5.6 routes up there. Feb 27, 2014
Jonathan Dull
Blowing Rock, NC
[Hide Comment] Ben, you'll be fine. The gate will be open by then and you won't be in any areas that are closed due to Peregrine Falcon closures. Mar 3, 2014
John Braun
Hendersonville, NC
[Hide Comment] The road to Table Rock is gated and the gate is (I believe) closed in the winter until April 1. If you decide to go, you can hike (or bike!) a steep mile and a half up the paved switchbacks to the picnic area. Mar 23, 2014
Austin Harris
Rifle CO
[Hide Comment] - APPROACH - From the parking lot, take the trail north (toward Table Rock: the big cliff you can see from the bathrooms). After about 5 min (0.25 mi), you will see a 3 foot high Rock wall on the right (made from really big rocks) turn right up this trail. Then after about 1 min (50 yards), you will see the first trail on your left; only take this to get to...
"The South End" routes ("Fresh Garbage" through "Two Pitch".
Keep going straight for...
"The East Face" routes ("Blood, Sweat and Tears" through "My Route")
and "The North End" routes ("Second Stanza" through "Devil's Cellar Chimney".
After about 7 min (part of which you will be walking right next to the cliff on your left) you will arrive at 3 railroad tie steps; right above these are the bases of...
"Jim Dandy" and "Peek-a-Boo".
If you keep going, the trail will steepen; after about 8 min the trail will bring you to a 6 foot high scramble up through a little chimney formed by the cliff on your left and a huge boulder on your right. Right before this chimney is the base of...
"The Cave Route".
After scrambling up through that little chimney, the trail will curve to the left and then really steepen into a 4th class scramble up about 30 feet, which will bring you to...
"the Lunch Ledge" to the left, and...
"The North End" routes ("Second Stanza" through "Devil's Cellar Chimney" to the right.
On "the Lunch Ledge", the cliff will now be on your right, and the first route you will come to is the base of...
"My Route" 5.6,
then continue up and to the left for the base of the 3rd pitch of...
"The Cave Route". Jun 17, 2015
Mitch Redford
[Hide Comment] Does anyone know if there is a guidebook for Table Rock? Jan 10, 2017
Brad Caldwell
Deep in the Jocassee Gorges
[Hide Comment] Selected climbs in North Carolina covers Table Rock...
amazon.com/Selected-Climbs-… Jan 11, 2017
Harrison Snow
[Hide Comment] been many years since I climbed at Table Rock NC - You used to be able to camp there near the parking lot - No doubt that is not the case any more - is there camping in the area? Are any permits needed from the park service? Thanks! May 21, 2018
Scott Phil
NC
[Hide Comment] You can still camp south of the parking lot on the gorge side of the trail to the Chimneys.
Whether you need a permit depends on when you will be there. You will need a permit on weekends and holidays, May 1-October 31. For more info see: fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/r… May 22, 2018
Andrew Z
Columbus, OH
[Hide Comment] Don’t be mistaken by the 3 steps that look like railroad ties before the real railroad ties used a reference for Peek-a-boo and Jim Dandy. There are 3 steps down prior to that along the trail and you must keep walking before the trail passes the railroad ties. Nov 22, 2018
Steven Dyer
Knoxville, TN
[Hide Comment] Hi, I'm new to Mountain Project. Been climbing 30 yrs. and "cut my teeth" at Table rock. My partners and I climbed yesterday on Jim Dandy, etc. Did the Block to Lightening Ledge and WOW Lightening ledge is Hairy Scary to traverse and to top out on now! Alot of key Veggie and Trees that made for great natural pro were/are dead or missing. Landmarks that I always just Knew would be there were not! Any body got any idea if there will be a installment of say a via ferrata to fill in the gaps? Maybe just add a bolt to the 2 that are there now at said travere gap to protect? I like the history and full on nature of trad climbing in NC and would not want to upset that but... Dec 27, 2019
Trey Best
Boone, NC
[Hide Comment] Please do not steal gear that is left for safety purposes! I left a rappel anchor around the tree to replace the old rope for the short 4th class section coming down from lunch ledge and somebody immediately stole it. The down climb isn't hard, but I understand how some want the safety of the rope that used to be there so a rap anchor was necessary. Jun 16, 2023