Kentucky · Rock climbing · Beattyville

The Laboratory

The Laboratory in Kentucky has 8 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad options.

8 routes
5.8 – 5.12a
Sport · Trad

Is Laboratory, The open right now?

Closure in the area

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

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

The Laboratory is a climbing area in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest, within the Cumberland Ranger District. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Fruit Wall and Graveyard each about 0.1 mile away and Alcatraz about 0.2 mile off. The area is a compact hub of sport and trad routes, with the hardest climbing reaching 5.12a. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Beattyville show May highs around 75°F and September highs near 79°F, with September also seeing the fewest wet days of the year. The routes here run from 5.8 up to 5.12a, with sport climbing making up the bulk of the options. Young Flakenstein is a 5.11b sport route, and Weird Science is the hardest at 5.12a. Codie Marie is a 5.8 trad route.

Routes (8)

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