Kentucky · Rock climbing · Lebanon Junction

Knobs Playground

Knobs Playground in Kentucky has 4 climbing routes with 3 difficulty grades.

4 routes
V1 – V1-
Bouldering

Best time to visit Knobs Playground

Best months: March–June 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° / 26°

  2. Feb

    50° / 29°

  3. Mar

    59° / 36°

  4. Apr

    70° / 45°

  5. May

    78° / 55°

  6. Jun

    84° / 62°

  7. Jul

    88° / 66°

  8. Aug

    87° / 65°

  9. Sep

    81° / 58°

  10. Oct

    71° / 47°

  11. Nov

    58° / 37°

  12. Dec

    48° / 30°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bernheim Forest, KY, 3.4 mi away at 550 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Knobs Playground is a bouldering area in Kentucky's Knobs State Forest and Wildlife Management Area, a joint-managed unit about 0.1 mile from the Playground, Main climbing area. The site sits within a cluster of trails and waterways, making it an easy addition to a day spent exploring the surrounding forest. The climbing here is all bouldering, with four routes listed, all rated V1 or V1- on the V scale. Three of them are named: Little Arête, Low Easy Traverse and Up The Middle. The routes are short and low-grade, so they work well for a quick session or as a warm-up before heading out on the trails. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Bernheim Forest show October highs around 71°F with lows near 47°F, and April highs around 70°F. Midsummer highs typically reach the upper 80s. The closest trails are the Blue Trail, about 0.8 mile away, and the Orange Trail, about a mile off. Paddlers can reach Crooked Creek, roughly 3 miles away, and Long Lick Creek is about 4.6 miles away.

Routes (4)