Illinois · Rock climbing · Buncombe · Near Goreville

The Outline

5.12a
grade
Sport Bolted
style
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is The Outline open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name The Outline, 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.

The hardest route catalogued at Draper's Bluff, located in The Sociable Wall sector. First ascent by Jim Thurmond.

Around this trail

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

    Turkey Ridge Tent Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.4 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Natural Bridge

    Attraction

    On your way back · 3 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Goreville
  • Nearby · Devils Standtable Area · C: Amphitheater Boulders · A: Gill Roof
  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit The Outline

    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, 10.8 mi away at 640 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Devils Standtable AreaPhoto: Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Devils Standtable Area

~17 min drive

Devils Standtable Area is a climbing crag in Illinois with 2 routes.

C: Amphitheater BouldersPhoto: Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

C: Amphitheater Boulders

~17 min drive

7 bouldering routes with pads in Illinois.

A: Gill RoofPhoto: Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

A: Gill Roof

~17 min drive

19-route climbing area in Illinois with bouldering, sport, and trad options.

Pomona Bottoms / potentialPhoto: Mrostrichman, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pomona Bottoms / potential

~32 min drive

Pomona Bottoms / potential in Illinois has 8 climbing routes on 6 difficulty grades.

Shawnee SolitairePhoto: Mrostrichman, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Shawnee Solitaire

~32 min drive

Shawnee Solitaire in Illinois has 6 bouldering routes across 5 grades.

CLIMB

The Woodland Ledge

Next door

Woodland Ledge in Illinois has 6 climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

A: Playground Wall -Detention Area

~1 min drive

Climbing area in Illinois with 12 routes.

CLIMB

D: PG Wall -Coal House Area

~1 min drive

Crag in Illinois with 17 routes: mixed, sport, and trad climbing.

CLIMB

Cedar Bluff

~1 min drive

Cedar Bluff in Illinois has 6 climbing routes ranging across 4 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

E: Bouldering

~2 min drive

6 bouldering routes in Illinois on 4 difficulty grades.