Illinois · Rock climbing · Near Goreville

Main Wall

25 routes
5.2 – 5.12d
Top Rope · Trad
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Main Wall open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name Main Wall, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Shawnee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Main Wall is a climbing area in southern Illinois, set within Shawnee National Forest's Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District and inside Ferne Clyffe State Park. It is managed by the State Department of Natural Resources and sits close to the trails of the park, with several hiking routes starting within a fraction of a mile. The area has a range of routes, with 25 in all. Nineteen are top rope and six are trad, and the grade range runs from 5.2 up to 5.12d. A few of the named routes include First Climb (aka Psychopath) at 5.2, Hawk's Beak at 5.7, and Gangster at 5.12d. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 73°F with lows near 48°F, while July highs reach about 90°F. The closest trails are Hawk's Cave Trail and Rebman's Trail, each about 0.1 mile away, and the Assassin Wall climbing area is about 0.7 mile off. Paddlers can find Lick Creek roughly 4 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Deer Ridge Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Water Fall

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Goreville
  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Main Wall

    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.

    1. Jan

      45° / 25°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      50° / 29°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      61° / 37°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      71° / 46°

      11 wet

    5. May

      79° / 56°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      87° / 65°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      90° / 69°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      89° / 67°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      83° / 59°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      73° / 48°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      59° / 37°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      48° / 30°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Anna 2 Nne, IL, 14.7 mi away at 640 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (25)

No Hans SoloFA: Darth Vader4thDivine InterventionFA: Jim Schneider5.10aFirst Born5.10aRusty PinFA: Gary Schaecher, Craig Barnes, Gary Frazier, Bruce Cyganowski, Bob Bennecke. FFA Adam Growowsky 1970's5.10aGoreville Eating SocietyFA: Jim Schneider, Jeff Allison, & Dan See 19945.10cThe GiftFA: Jim Schneider & Allan Hogg 19935.10cChilly, Gray Matter5.11Jennifer Goes To HollywoodFA: Jeff Allison 1990's5.11aGrace Under FireFA: Jim Schneider & Brian Copanas 19935.11cGeorge Of The JungleFA: Scott Mueller, Dan Caldwell, & Pat Flynn 19955.11dMr. Mo Jo RisingFA: Jim Schneider5.12aNo Holds Barred5.12aPondering Perpetual MotionFA: Jim Schneider & Allan Hogg 1990's5.12aGangsterFA: Mark Polino late 1990's5.12dFirst Climb (aka Psychopath)5.2Ditch PitchFA: OG Southern IL climber5.4Open Book (aka I Don't Care)5.4QuasimodoFA: Unknown OG climber5.6Cracked HeartFA: Joe Mudd & Andrew Large 19925.7Hawk's Beak5.7Miles From NowhereFA: Jim Schneider & Jeff Allison 19795.7Teetering Tick FestFA: OG climber5.7Two Times ToughFA: Jeff Allison, Jim Schneider 19825.7Under The InfluenceFA: Hank Schafermeyer, Tony Calabrese circa 19705.8Missouri BreaksFA: Adam Grosowsky, Alan Carrier circa 1970's5.9