Kentucky · Rock climbing · Beattyville

(4) Madness Cave

Madness Cave in Kentucky has 7 sport climbing routes on limestone.

7 routes
5.13a – 5.14a
Sport

Is (4) Madness Cave open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Daniel Boone National Forest. It doesn't name (4) Madness Cave, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Best time to visit (4) Madness Cave

Best months: August–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

    42° / 24°

    13 wet

  2. Feb

    47° / 27°

    13 wet

  3. Mar

    57° / 34°

    15 wet

  4. Apr

    68° / 44°

    15 wet

  5. May

    75° / 53°

    15 wet

  6. Jun

    82° / 61°

    14 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 65°

    14 wet

  8. Aug

    84° / 64°

    12 wet

  9. Sep

    79° / 57°

    10 wet

  10. Oct

    69° / 44°

    12 wet

  11. Nov

    57° / 35°

    12 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 28°

    13 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Beattyville 4n, KY, 0.9 mi away at 1,080 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Madness Cave is a sport climbing area in the Cumberland Ranger District of Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky, about a mile from the town of Beattyville. It sits among a cluster of climbing walls, with Warm-Up Wall and GMC Wall each about 0.1 mile away. The area has seven sport routes, all rated between 5.13a and 5.14a. The Madness, at 5.13c, is the most typical of them, and Omaha Beach and Transworld Depravity are the hardest, both at 5.14a. The routes were first climbed between 1995 and 2001. September is the most comfortable month to visit, with typical highs around 79°F and lows near 57°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station. October is similar, with highs near 69°F. Other climbing is close by, with Undertow Wall about 0.1 mile away. For a change of pace, the Sheltowee Trace high water route is about 2.8 miles off, and Lago Linda Hideaway campground is about 4.1 miles away.

Routes (7)

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