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Amphitheater Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Amphitheater

L › R R › L A › Z

	All Tough: No Love T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R
	Baby's Traverse T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b PG13
	Brothers Start T 5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
	Cryptic Trip T 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Daddy, The T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
	False Mummy T 5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
	Good Heavens T 5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
	Good Heavens Prow T 5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
	Good Heavens variation (a.k.a. Cave variation) T 5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Grimy, The T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Heckfire Left var. T 5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Holy Moses T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
	Iguana Crack T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Labyrinth T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b PG13
	Land of the little people T 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R
	Limey, The T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Lost in Space T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c A1-2
	Mummy, The T 5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
	Open Book, The T 5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
	Out of sight out of mind T 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Prow (lower pitches), The T 5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
	Prow Right, The T 5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
	Prow, The T 5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
	Rattlesnake Crack T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	S. D. Modiano T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Short Cake T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
	Sister Seagull T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
	Skunk Crack T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Trinidad T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13
	Turkey Beard T 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a

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Elevation:	2,727 ft	831 m
GPS:	35.871, -81.89291 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: 2023 seasonal raptor closure (January 15th-August 15th) Details

fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/ne…

Shortoff Mountain South: All routes between and including C.O and Paradigm Shift are closed.

Shortoff Mountain North: All climbing routes, cliff rim, and campsites within the red band marked on the map are closed to entry. No foot traffic or camping above or below the cliff in this section. Contact the USFS for more details: 828 652 2144.

NC Wall/Apricot Buttress/The Camel: On the NC Wall, all routes between and including Tightrope and Bumblebee Buttress are closed. Apricot Buttress and The Camel are closed.

Bynum Bluff: All routes are closed.

Access Issue: Post Hurricane Helene Accessibility of Crags Details

The CCC has created the list linked below of accessible and inaccessible climbing areas with some caveats. If you decide to head out for a day of climbing, please do not attempt to go to those marked ‘inaccessible’. Please note that all areas in WNC will have extensive tree damage and if you head out, use extra caution for all the trees above, especially on a windy day. Rock fall potential is also highest after a big weather event. Please use extra caution while climbing and prepare to self rescue if injured. Injury response time will be greatly limited for any injury currently, especially for a remote injury. Cell service is limited in all areas. Parking at accessible crags in the WNC/ Upstate SC region will likely be challenging. If the parking lot is full, go to a different area and do not park illegally or in a road. Make a plan B before leaving your house. Expect road detours on the way to the crag. NCdrive.gov updates road closures. Once you get to the crag, expect many trees blocking access trails and of course, come volunteer with the CCC to help us bring our climbing areas back!

carolinaclimbers.org/conten…

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 (roughly 1 cu ft.) 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.

30 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Amphitheater

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c 320 ● The Prow Trad 4 pitches
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c 4 ● The Prow Right Trad
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a 339 ● The Mummy Trad 3 pitches
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a 66 ● Good Heavens Trad 5 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 427 ● The Daddy Trad 5 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 5 ● Sister Seagull Trad 3 pitches
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 4 ● Brothers Start Trad 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 6 ● Rattlesnake Crack Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13 4 ● Trinidad Trad 4 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c R 6 ● Land of the little people Trad 3 pitches
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c 44 ● The Open Book Trad 2 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 8 ● Cryptic Trip Trad
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 7 ● Turkey Beard Trad 2 pitches