Fern Bouldering
6 bouldering routes in Arkansas spanning 4 grades.
- 6 routes
- V1 – V7
- Bouldering
Is Fern Bouldering open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. It doesn't name Fern Bouldering, so check the source for the area it covers (9 listed).
Ozark Highlands Trail Access During ARDOT Hwy 123 Big Piney Creek Bridge Reconstruction
Agency closure covering Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
Wildfire Risk Increases in Arkansas and Oklahoma
Agency closure covering Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
Spring Lake Recreation Area Closed For Rest of 2026 Season
Agency closure covering Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
Lake Wedington Recreation Area Water Line Project
Agency closure covering Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
Morgan Mtn Rd Partially Closed for Road Repair
Agency closure covering Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Fern Bouldering
Best months: March–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
49° / 26°
8 wet
Feb
54° / 29°
7 wet
Mar
63° / 37°
9 wet
Apr
72° / 46°
9 wet
May
79° / 55°
10 wet
Jun
87° / 64°
9 wet
Jul
92° / 67°
8 wet
Aug
91° / 66°
7 wet
Sep
84° / 58°
7 wet
Oct
74° / 47°
8 wet
Nov
61° / 36°
8 wet
Dec
52° / 29°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mountainburg 2 Ne, AR, 8.5 mi away at 793 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Fern Bouldering is a bouldering area in Arkansas, set within the Boston Mountain Ranger District of the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and it sits among a cluster of climbing areas, with P.K. Boulder and Cowboy Boulder each about a tenth of a mile away. The area holds six boulder problems, all rated on the V scale. The easiest is Paper Thin at V1, and the hardest is Crimpy Timmy at V7. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mountainburg run highs around 79°F in May and 74°F in October. Late spring and early fall tend to be the most comfortable times to visit. For an overnight stay, Shores Lake Campground lies about 3 miles off, and the White Rock-Shores Lake West hike is a similar distance. Paddlers can find Frog Bayou roughly 7.6 miles away.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Cowboy Boulder
~0 min drive
Cowboy Boulder in Arkansas has 5 sport climbing routes across 5 difficulty grades.
Fern North
~0 min drive
Fern North in Arkansas has 15 climbing routes across 9 grades.
Slap Happy area
~1 min drive
Slap Happy area in Arkansas has 5 sport climbing routes on 4 difficulty grades.
MMA Wall
~12 min drive
MMA Wall in Arkansas has 13 sport climbing routes across 12 grades.
Area 51
~12 min drive
Area 51 in Arkansas has 3 climbing routes across 3 grades, offering sport and trad options.
Psychology Wall
~12 min drive
Psychology Wall in Arkansas has 11 climbing routes across 8 difficulty grades.
Area 51 Bouldering
~12 min drive
Area 51 Bouldering in Arkansas has 6 routes across 4 grades with bouldering pads, mixed, and trad.
Rhyme or Reason Wall
~12 min drive
Rhyme or Reason Wall in Arkansas has 16 climbing routes with 11 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad options.
Space Wall
~12 min drive
Space Wall in Arkansas has 7 climbing routes with 6 difficulty grades.
Bigfoot Proper
~13 min drive
Bigfoot Proper is an Arkansas climbing crag with 8 routes: bouldering pads and sport.
