Tennessee Rock Climbing & Bouldering Guide

Located along the western side of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga lies Sunset Rock, known to have some of Tennessee’s best trad climbing. Interestingly, this area is quite historically significant, as it served as a major vantage point during the Civil War for observing troop movements during the Battle of Chattanooga. Today, it remains a top-tier outdoor Tennessee rock-climbing location.

• Address/GPS location: Sunset Rock is located at 390 W Brow Rd, Lookout Mountain, TN, in a residential area, and no camping is allowed.
   
• Difficulty Level: With a variety of trad routes available for beginners and experts, there is a route for every skill level.
   
• Parking Information: The best place to park is Lookout Mountain Battlefield’s Cravens House.
   
• Fee/permit Requirements: There is no fee to climb Sunset Rock, and a permit is not required.
   
• Rules: Follow all NPS climbing regulations and posted rules.
   
• Operating Hours: Open from sunset to sundown.

Discover the wonders of natural erosion by visiting Stone Door at the Savage Gulf State Park in Beersheba Springs. Walk through the “stone door,” created by thousands of years of erosion, and climb the surrounding cliffs. Most climbing here is trad, but there is a top rope course known as the Vanderbilt Wall. 

• Address/GPS location: Access the climbing area via the Savage Gulf North Trailhead at 1183 Stone Door Road, Beersheba Springs, TN. You will then complete a short hike to arrive at the climbing area.  
   
• Difficulty Level: The cliffs vary in difficulty, from 5.4 to 5.11, and include a section that rises nearly 160 feet.
   
• Parking Information: Park at the Savage Gulf North Trailhead at at 1183 Stone Door Road, Beersheba Springs, TN. You will then complete a short hike to arrive at the climbing area.  
   
• Fee/permit Requirements: In order to climb Stone Door, you’ll need to register online or at the ranger’s office at the trailhead. Please keep the registration number with you as you climb. There is no fee to climb in Savage Gulf State Park.
   
• Rules: Refer to the details provided in your permit confirmation email and practice Leave No Trace principles. 
   
• Operating Hours: The park is open daily from sunset to sundown, and the ranger's station is open daily from 8 AM to 4 PM.
   
• Noteworthy Bonuses: Camping at Savage Gulf is great, and though climbing is only available at Stone Door, you can see a number of beautiful waterfalls and boulders as you hike the area.

Located about an hour’s drive from Knoxville, Obed Wild & Scenic River in Wartburg, Tennessee is home to a collection of stunning sandstone cliffs which deliver some of the best sport climbing in the Southeast. Offering year-round climbing, Obed’s cliffs are especially well-known for being “steep,” meaning many of the rocks overhang past vertical.

• Address/GPS location: 36.1020181°, -84.7174438
   
• Difficulty Level: With over 350 sport climbing routes varying in difficulty from 5.7 to 5.14, Obed also features a number of bouldering and trad climbing opportunities throughout the area. 
   
• Parking Information:  Park near Lilly Bridge or in one of the Lily Overlook parking lots.
   
• Fee/permit Requirements: Permits are not required to climb in Obed Wild & Scenic River and there are no fees. Climbers are expected to know and follow all park regulations. 
   
• Operating Hours: The area is open from sunrise to sunset.

One of the premier climbing spots in the Nashville area, Kings Bluff is a limestone crag featuring over 160 routes throughout the 9.78-acre area. This fantastic outdoor climbing area in Tennessee is now owned and maintained by the Southeastern Climbers Coalition.

• Address/GPS location: 919 Max Court, Clarksville, TN 37043
   
• Difficulty Level: Kings Bluff in Clarksville has routes ranging from 5.3 to 5.13, most of which are sport climbing. The area does offer some mixed and trad routes as well.
   
• Parking Information: Pass by the businesses and park in the cul-de-sac at the trail head. Close the gate before and after your climb. 
   
• Fee/permit Requirements: There is no fee or permit required to climb at Kings Bluff, however visitors of the property must fill out the form located here to enter the area and receive the gate code. All climbers must follow Leave No Trace principles.

Nestled 2-3 minutes from Chattanooga’s St. Elmo neighborhood, the Boulders at Old Wauhatchie offer fantastic bouldering with nearly 80 total routes to attempt. Owned and managed by the Lookout Mountain Conservancy, this area provides super easy access and great bouldering opportunities only minutes from town.

• Address/GPS location: 1832 Old Wauhatchie Pike, Chattanooga, TN 37409
   
• Difficulty Level: Difficulty of the boulders ranges from V0 to V10, with majority of boulders presenting mid-range difficulty from V2-V6.
   
• Parking Information: Parking is available at Rockmont Park, 1832 Old Wauhatchie Pike.
   
• Fee/permit Requirements: All climbers must sign the waiver found here. There is no fee to boulder at Old Wauhatchie Park.
   
• Area Highlights: After climbing, make sure to check out the ADA-accessible, 5-mile Guild-Hardy trail where hikers, runners, and bikers can enjoy views of Downtown Chattanooga and the Tennessee River.

Well-known in the climbing community as one of the best bouldering locations in the entire country, Stone Fort (also called Little Rock City) offers top tier sandstone and plenty of problems to tackle. This destination is great for the whole family, as there are plenty of areas for children to safely explore. No camping is allowed, though there are a number of camp sites nearby like Stevenson Branch Campsite and Chester Frost Park.

• Address/GPS location: 9104 Brow Lake Rd, Soddy Daisy, TN 37379
   
• Difficulty Level: With such a versatile array climbing opportunities, ranging from V0 to V14, Stone Fort will provide an experience unlike any other.
   
• Fee/permit Requirements: Stone Fort is owned by Montlake Golf Club, so be sure to stop by the club to pay the day-use fee.

Only 40 minutes from downtown Nashville, visit the Greenway Boulders in Murfreesboro. With a small area of climbable boulders just off the greenway trailhead, roam around the area and explore. Several of the routes offer nice views of the river and intriguing problems for beginners and experts alike. 

• Difficulty Level: Enjoy the variety of different grade boulders ranging from V0 to V6
   
• Parking Information: Parking for this area is in the 84 Lumber lot near the intersection of Thompson and Broad; the boulders are downhill towards the river.
   
• Operating Hours: The greenway boulders are day-use only.

Explore a multitude of boulders and climbing opportunities at Laurel-Snow State Natural Area in Dayton. Here, there are a number of different rocks ideal for bouldering with over 150 problems scattered next to a beautiful creek. 

• Address/GPS location: The natural area is located at 220 Park Road, Caryville, TN 37714
   
• Difficulty Level and Route Options: Attempt one of the more infamous problems, Vapor Roof, which offers a dozen different routes graded at V6 and higher. There is also trad and sport climbing available at Laurel Falls, featuring over a dozen 5.11s, ten 5.10s, and several easier routes.
   
• Operating Hours:  Access is available from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
   
• Area Highlights: Wind down after a long day of climbing with drinks at the local Monkey Town Brewery in downtown Dayton.

Located west of Knoxville and resembling a huge labyrinth consisting of various tunnels formed by the towering cliffs and boulders, navigate Black Mountain in Crossville for a wide-ranging climbing experience. With a majority of the routes being top rope, there are a number of sport and trad climbs available as well as hundreds of boulders with established problems. For top ropers, be sure to bring plenty of webbing (50ft+) for anchors.

• Address/GPS location: 3405 Owl Roost Rd, Crossville, TN
   
• Difficulty Level: Grades in the area range from 5.4 to 5.10 for the rock climbing and V0 to V6 for bouldering.
   
• Parking Information: Park at the base of the first radio tower on your right and walk back across the road to find the trail and rocks.
   
• Permit/fee requirements: All climbers should register online or with park management prior to climbing in the park. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with your unique registration number, site rules, and other helpful info.

As the largest indoor climbing center in East Tennessee, Onsight Rock Gym in Knoxville provides opportunities for skill development and plenty of fun. Opportunities to boulder are available, with a number of areas dedicated to problem-solving. The staff is super friendly, helpful, and always poised to personally help each climber. Visit Onsight for an amazing climbing experience sure to please. 

• Address/GPS location:  5335 Western Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37921
   
• Difficulty Level: Onsight has a dedicated kid’s climbing area in addition to regular walls for adults of all skill levels, making it a great place for family-friendly climbing. Grades on the walls range from 5.6 for beginners all the way to 5.13 for experienced climbers.
   
• Parking Information: Free parking is available on site.
   
• Fee/permit Requirements: All climbers must have a waiver on file; an adult day pass is $20, with weekday early bird discounts available before 3 p.m.
   
• Events: Check out Onsight’s social media channels for information on fun events and classes.
   
• Operating Hours: Onsight is open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 10 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sundays from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Take the family to High Point Climbing & Fitness in downtown Chattanooga, Chattanooga's Riverside, Cleveland, or Memphis for an experience sure to get your heart pumping. Featuring an outdoor climbing wall that offers great views of downtown, enjoy over 100 boulder problems and over 150 routes set up throughout the facility.

• Address/GPS location: Highpoint Climbing has three gyms across Chattanooga and one in Memphis. The original downtown Chattanooga location is located at  219 Broad St. Chattanooga TN 37402
   
• Difficulty Level: There is a kid-friendly zone where children can safely explore and climb walls and skyscraper towers. More experienced climbers can attempt grades up to 5.13+ and boulders V12+. There are also plenty of walls that are perfect for beginners to tackle.  

No matter your age, build, or ability, climbing is a fun way to build confidence, problem-solving skills, and presence of mind. Take the 45-minute climbing class at Memphis Rox to get acquainted with the sport from tying a rope, top rope belay, climbing commands and more. Then, enjoy the rope climbing and the bouldering courses.

• Address/GPS location: 879 E McLemore, Memphis, TN 38106
   
• Difficulty Level: All levels of experience are welcome at this indoor climbing gym in Memphis.
   
• Parking Information: Free parking is available on-site.
   
• Fee/permit Requirements: Memphis Rox is a "pay what you can" facility, but day passes are offered at a suggested price. All climbers must have a waiver on file before climbing. Climbing gear is available to rent at the front desk.
   
• Operating Hours: Memphis Rox is open Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 9 PM, and Saturday to Sunday from Noon to 6 PM.

For an experience like none other, make a trip to Lake Nickajack for a deep-water solo climbing adventure. Only accessible by boat or canoe, the cliffs are located on the south side of Little Cedar Mountain facing the Tennessee River. The cliff line stands roughly 50 feet tall and offers a variety of features and problems you can climb, most of which are 5.9 or higher grade. The water underneath the cliff is 60-80 feet deep, so fun falls to the water after a short climb will be a highlight.

• Directions: To reach the cliffs, the fastest way would be to set off at Shellmound Campground’s boat ramp and paddle/row approximately 1 mile east, where the cliffs will be on your left.
   
• Difficulty Level: The cliff line stands roughly 50 feet tall and offers a variety of features and problems you can climb, most of which are 5.9 or higher grade.
   
• Parking Information: Park and put-in at the Shellmound Campground boat ramp, 2735 Tva Rd, Jasper, TN 37347
   
• Fee/permit Requirements: There is no fee or permit required for this Tennessee rock climbing adventure.
   
• Operating Hours: Paddling to and from the cliffs is only recommended during daylight.

You don’t have to travel very far from Nashville to have a great climb. Twenty minutes outside downtown Nashville lies The Crag, an indoor climbing gym fueled by a passion for the sport. Featuring a top-rated facility with a great layout, the Crag offers a variety of climbing walls with and without auto-belay. It also has a number of bouldering walls to attempt. Best of all, the climbing courses are constantly changing, so once you master a wall, new challenges await to hone your skills.

• Address/GPS location: The Nashville Crag location is located at 15115 Old Hickory Blvd Suite C, Nashville, TN 37211. For indoor rock climbing in Franklin, opt for the Franklin location at 1850 General George Patton Dr, Suite D, Franklin, TN 37067
   
• Difficulty Level: Perfect for small children to adults, The Crag safely accommodates all climbing proficiency levels and has guided instruction classes available for those new to climbing. 

Grading System – Climbing grades fall into a basic scale of difficulty; 5.0 to 5.7 is easy, 5.8 to 5.10 is intermediate, 5.11 to 5.12 is hard, and 5.13 to 5.15 is extremely hard (only very experienced and talented climbers should attempt); bouldering has a slightly different scale which ranges from V0 (easiest) to V16 (hardest)
 

Top Roping – Climbers are securely attached to rope which is held by a belayer and anchored to a secure point at the top; this is the best option for beginners and most common indoor climbing setup
 

Traditional (Trad) Climbing – Type of climbing where climbers carry their own gear which they place into the rock as they ascend; this type of climbing requires advanced knowledge and experience to perform safely
 

Sport Climbing – Often the most popular type of rock climbing which involves clipping quickdraws into bolt hangers permanently affixed to the rock or wall; this can be done outdoors and indoors
 

Bouldering – Climbing on a very short boulder or cliff without needing a rope; this type of climbing involves using “crash pads” placed below climbers as well as spotters to ensure they land safely
 

Problem – In bouldering, a route which requires thought and mapped out movements to successfully climb