Pistol Ridge
Pistol Ridge in Kentucky has 28 climbing routes across 22 difficulty grades.
- 28 routes
- 5.1 – 5.12c
- Trad · Sport · Bouldering
Is Pistol Ridge open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Daniel Boone National Forest. It doesn't name Pistol Ridge, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
National Visitor Use Monitoring, Oct 2026-Sept 2027
Agency closure covering Daniel Boone National Forest · USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest
Scott Creek Boat ramp briefly inaccessible, July 30
Agency closure covering Daniel Boone National Forest · USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest
Low water levels at Laurel River Lake
Agency alert covering Daniel Boone National Forest · USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest
Active logging operations near Redbird Crest Trail Sections 17-19
Agency alert covering Daniel Boone National Forest · USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest
Cliffside Trail #519 Closure
Agency alert covering Daniel Boone National Forest · USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Pistol Ridge
Best months: June and 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.
Jan
42° / 23°
13 wet
Feb
47° / 26°
13 wet
Mar
56° / 33°
14 wet
Apr
67° / 42°
13 wet
May
75° / 52°
13 wet
Jun
82° / 60°
12 wet
Jul
84° / 64°
13 wet
Aug
83° / 63°
11 wet
Sep
79° / 56°
9 wet
Oct
69° / 43°
11 wet
Nov
57° / 34°
11 wet
Dec
46° / 28°
13 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stanton 2w, KY, 12.2 mi away at 720 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Pistol Ridge is a climbing area in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest, within the Cumberland Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits among several other climbing and hiking destinations, making it a natural anchor for a day of bouldering, trad and sport climbing. The climbing here runs a range of styles and grades, with 28 routes in total. About 21 are trad, five are sport and two are bouldering, and the grades span from 5.1 up to 5.12c. The hardest route is Hidden Dragon, a 5.12c trad climb. Sport climbers will find It's a Wonderful Life at 5.9+. Fall is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show September highs around 79°F and lows near 56°F, with September and October seeing the fewest wet days of the year. Indian Creek Camping Area and Pebble Beach Trail #237 are each about 0.2 miles away, and the Pebble Beach climbing area is about 0.3 miles off. Long Wall lies roughly 1.3 miles away.
Routes (28)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: US Forest Service - Southern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Long Wall
~2 min drive
Long Wall in Kentucky has 40 climbing routes with bouldering pads, sport, and trad.
Photo: US Forest Service - Southern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Tarr Ridge
~3 min drive
Kentucky ridge crag with varied climbing for multiple skill levels.
Photo: US Forest Service - Southern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Raven Rock
~3 min drive
Natural rock climbing area in Kentucky with varied climbing opportunities.
Photo: pmuellr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Haystack Rock
~3 min drive
Haystack Rock is a Kentucky climbing crag with 6 routes.
Pebble Beach
~1 min drive
Pebble Beach in Kentucky has 28 climbing routes across 15 grades, featuring sport and trad styles.
Clearcut Wall
~1 min drive
Kentucky climbing crag with varied routes for multiple skill levels.
Bear Wollor Hollor
~1 min drive
Kentucky climbing in a natural hollow setting with varied rock climbing opportunities.
Brighton Wall
~1 min drive
Kentucky climbing area with varied routes for multiple skill levels.
Symphony Wall
~1 min drive
Kentucky climbing crag with varied routes for multiple skill levels.
Willie's Wall
~2 min drive
Kentucky climbing crag with varied routes for multiple skill levels.
Also worth it near here
Indian Creek Camping Area
~0 min drive
Photo: US Forest Service - Southern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Pebble Beach Trail #237
~0 min drive
Double Arch
~3 min drive
Tower Rock
~8 min drive