Black Mountain Climbing

Black Mountain could be called "Rocktown's Little Brother". The area is like a huge maze, with hallways and tunnels formed by the cliffs and huge boulders. The area lies at 2,900 feet on the Cumberland Plateau and is the focal point of the Cumberland Trail State Park which is currently under development.

Back in 2001, Black Mountain was purchased by the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation tenngreen.org (TPGF) to preserve the area long term. Black Mountain is known for spectacular views and compact, short sandstone cliffs. By purchasing the land, the area will remain wild and undeveloped for the public to enjoy. The 528-acre conservation project is the biggest accomplishment in the TPGF's history. The recent acquisition was critical to completing a 283-mile long linear state park. The SCC joined the TPGF along with the Access Fund (AF) in donating money for the area. The AF approved a grant for $5000 to help keep the area open to climbers. The SCC sponsored a cleanup of the area during the fall of 2001, followed by a mini-bouldering session by all of the enthused volunteers. New bouldering areas have been discovered within the forest which is slowly being developed by local climbers.

The cliffs primarily hold all the top-rope routes; be sure to bring LOTS of webbing (50ft. or more) for anchors. There are also hundreds of boulders with established problems as well as a ton of potential. Some of the freestanding pillars have got to be holding some undiscovered routes, not to mention the boulders that are hiding farther out in the woods. The area has suffered abuse by people dumping trash in the past. Now that the Cumberland Trail runs right through the area, the trash situation has gotten better but please be sure not to leave any trash behind. There is a water source across the road from the first parking area, but it typically does not flow much, so bring all the water that you will need for the day. Black Mt. may not be as classic as Foster's or the Obed, but if you are looking for a new spot to explore - Black Mt. is a worthwhile venture.
- Jim Looney

(Information taken from seclimbers.org)