Georgia · Rock climbing · Lakemont · Near Highlands

Turtle

8 routes
5.8+ – 5.12
Trad
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Turtle open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. It doesn't name Turtle, so check the source for the area it covers (4 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Turtle is a traditional climbing area in Tallulah Gorge State Park, in the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in north Georgia. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land. The area sits close to two other climbing areas. Sport Wall and Main Wall both lie about a tenth of a mile away. For a break from the rock, Stone Place Trail starts about 0.4 miles off, and High Bluff Trail is about 1.1 miles away. The climbing here is traditional. Eight routes are listed, with grades ranging from 5.8 to 5.12, and the median is 5.10a. Br'er Turtle is the hardest, at 5.12, and Kaboom! and Turtle-Turtle are both around 5.10a. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically spring and fall. At the Long Creek weather station, about 7 miles away, October averages highs near 70°F with lows around 47°F, and April is similar. July is the warmest month, with highs in the mid-80s.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Backcountry Campsite #1

    Campground

    Campground · 0.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Ugly Mug Tavern

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rains

    Sunset Rock

    Viewpoint

    In town

    Cliff in Macon County, North Carolina, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Highlands
  • Best time to go · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Turtle

    Best months: March–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.

    1. Jan

      50° / 30°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      54° / 32°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      61° / 38°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      70° / 46°

      10 wet

    5. May

      76° / 54°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 62°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 65°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 64°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 58°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      70° / 47°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 38°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      53° / 32°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Long Creek, SC, 7.2 mi away at 1,625 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Spring 2026 Forest-wide Fire Restrictions

      Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests · Order dated April 23, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Oct 13, 2026 · Forest Service

Routes (8)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Tallulah GorgePhoto: Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tallulah Gorge

~3 min drive

Tallulah Gorge in Georgia has 2 trad climbing routes.

Main WallPhoto: Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Main Wall

~3 min drive

Main Wall is a climbing crag in Georgia with 33 routes.

Main FacePhoto: Scott Long, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Main Face

~35 min drive

Main Face in Georgia has 39 climbing routes across 12 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Mount YonahPhoto: Scott Long, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Yonah

~35 min drive

Mount Yonah in Georgia has 10 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering bouldering and trad options.

White WallPhoto: Scott Long, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

White Wall

~36 min drive

White Wall in Georgia has 10 climbing routes across 9 difficulty grades.

Hogpen GapPhoto: Thomsonmg2000, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hogpen Gap

~46 min drive

Georgia climbing at Hogpen Gap with varied routes and scenic mountain setting.

CLIMB

Above the Brick Wall

~24 min drive

Above the Brick Wall is a 7-route bouldering crag in Georgia with 5 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

Brick Wall

~24 min drive

Brick Wall in Georgia has 17 climbing routes across 12 grades, offering sport and trad options.

CLIMB

The Buzzard Wall

~24 min drive

Buzzard Wall in Georgia has 11 mixed climbing routes ranging from moderate to challenging.

CLIMB

Slab Area

~24 min drive

Slab Area in Georgia has 22 climbing routes with 12 difficulty grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad options.