Kentucky · Rock climbing · Leeco

The Bright Side

Bright Side, The in Kentucky has 18 climbing routes on 14 difficulty grades.

18 routes
5.8+ – 5.13a/b
Sport · Trad

Is Bright Side, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Daniel Boone National Forest. It doesn't name Bright Side, The, 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 The Bright Side

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, 3.5 mi away at 1,080 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Bright Side is a climbing area in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest, within the Cumberland Ranger District and the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve. It is managed by a non-governmental organization, and the surrounding land is shared with the nearby climbing areas of The Dark Side and Solar Collector/Gold Coast, both about 0.3 miles away. The area has 18 routes, mostly sport climbing with one trad route. The grades run from 5.8+ up to 5.13, with the median at 5.11d. Among the named routes are Sandy Malone at 5.10d, Smokin on Kesha at 5.11c and Medicine Man at 5.13. For timing, fall is the most comfortable season. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Beattyville show October highs around 69°F with lows near 44°F, and September and October have the fewest wet days of the year.

Routes (18)

PickpocketFA: Scott Curran, Jimmy Hoctor5.10dSandy MaloneFA: Scott Curran, Kyle Waldrop5.10dChica Loca5.11aScalawagarusFA: Nick Feiler, Mike Wheatley5.11aCrown of ThornsFA: Dustin Stephens & Siamak Pazirandeh5.11cSmokin on KeshaFA: Jimmy Hoctor, Scott Curran5.11cDeep FriedFA: Frank Byron & Dustin Stephens5.11dTongue-punchFA: Andrew Wheatley in 20125.11dDog Bites & FistfightsFA: Brad Dallefield & Dustin Stephens5.12+Golden BrownFA: Dustin Stephens & Lena Bakanova5.12aBrownian MotionFA: Dustin Stephens, Jimmy Farrell 20115.12bFresh BakedFA: Dustin Stephens & Symon Ardila5.12b/cBush LeagueFA: Dustin Stephens & Scott Curran5.12cBlowin' LoadzFA: Frank Byron, equipped by Dustin Stephens5.12dMedicine ManFA: Enzo Oddo, equipped by Kipp Trummel5.13Better Eat Yo' WheatleysFA: Adam Taylor, equipped by Andrew Wheatley5.13a/bEpigyneFA: Dustin Stephens & Jimmy Farrell5.8+Crazy EyesFA: Scott Curran, Jeremy Kiner, 20125.9

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