Elevation: 1,165 ft
GPS: 36.1166, -84.7317
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 1,113,902 total · 5,600/month
Shared By: Josh Janes on Nov 28, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Kristin Tippey, saxfiend, Stonyman Killough, Luke Cornejo

Description

The confluence of Clear Creek and the Obed River is home to a series of beautiful sandstone cliff bands providing some of the best sport climbing in the Southeast. Just bring a rack of draws, a stick clip (high first bolts are commonplace in these parts), and guns (double entendre intended). The rock here is Cumberland Plateau sandstone, and the sedimentary layering of the rock tends to form huge horizontal roofs, jugs, and slopers. The rock is generally bullet hard and provides good friction. Climbing happens year-round — chase the shade or sun depending on the season.

While camping is no longer permitted at the Lilly Pad Hopyard & Brewery, it's still the place to go when you're done climbing for the day. Del has expanded the brewery quite a bit and now has three bathrooms with running water sinks in each. Marte serves up a rotating menu of delicious food to go along with the on-tap beers, and you can even get cans to go. Guidebooks are available for sale here, along with some other items from different local producers. 

There is a new campground a few minutes from the Lilly Pad- Clear Creek Campground. It's owned by Nathaniel Armes, a friend of the Scruggs family. The campground is located at 259 AJ Armes Rd. Lancing, TN 37770. You can also go to the Lilly Bluff Overlook parking lot (where you park for the boulder field) and follow the white "Camping" signs. Cost is $10/night per person, payable by cash in a drop box or Venmo- check out the sign by the portapotty when you get there. There is more information on the Lilly Pad website- lillypadhopyardbrewery.com

Getting There

About an hour NW of Knoxville. Take highway 27 North through Harriman and Wartburg. Take a left onto highway 62 and follow this windy road through the town of Lancing. After about three miles, turn left again on Ridge Road. This road brings one to the Obed and Clear Creek after only a few miles. For more specific directions, see the area pages.

606 Total Climbs

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Location: Obed & Clear Creek Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Obed & Clear Creek

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V2 5+
 85
K.B. Arete
Boulder
V4 6B
 84
Hemlock Arete
Boulder
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 368
Best Seat In The House
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 288
Tarantella
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 362
Spawn
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 179
Pale Face
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 139
Whipper Snapper
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 146
Lounge Lizard
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 117
Tales of the Sperm
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 110
Saddam Hussein
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 229
Heresy
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 93
Tieranny
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 157
Solstice
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 72
Barbwire and Lingerie
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 88
Rage
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
K.B. Arete Lilly Boulders > K.B. Boulder
 85
V2 5+ Boulder
Hemlock Arete Lilly Boulders > Hemlock Boulder
 84
V4 6B Boulder
Best Seat In The House S Clear Creek > Balcony
 368
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Tarantella Lilly Bluff
 288
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Spawn S Clear Creek > Image Wall
 362
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Pale Face S Clear Creek > Balcony
 179
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Whipper Snapper Lilly Bluff
 139
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Lounge Lizard Lilly Bluff
 146
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Tales of the Sperm Tieranny Roofs
 117
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Saddam Hussein N Clear Creek > N Clear Creek
 110
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Heresy Lilly Bluff
 229
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Tieranny Tieranny Roofs
 93
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Solstice S Clear Creek > Solstice Cave
 157
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Barbwire and Lingerie Y- 12
 72
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Rage S Clear Creek > Stephen King Library
 88
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Obed & Clear Creek »

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