Kentucky · Rock climbing · Frenchburg

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).

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.

  1. Jan

    42° / 23°

    13 wet

  2. Feb

    47° / 26°

    13 wet

  3. Mar

    56° / 33°

    14 wet

  4. Apr

    67° / 42°

    13 wet

  5. May

    75° / 52°

    13 wet

  6. Jun

    82° / 60°

    12 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 64°

    13 wet

  8. Aug

    83° / 63°

    11 wet

  9. Sep

    79° / 56°

    9 wet

  10. Oct

    69° / 43°

    11 wet

  11. Nov

    57° / 34°

    11 wet

  12. 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)

People GullyFA: Erik Farley, Kirk Fatool, David Fatool, 19925.1Chem StudsFA: Erik Farley, Dave Hill 19935.10aWay of the Peaceful WarriorFA: Jerry Bargo, Steve Must, 19985.10aArmed5.10bBlack FridayFA: Dustin Stephens, Joel Handley in 20155.10bThe UnknowableFA: Dustin Stephens, Joel Handley5.10b/cA Fresh StartFA: Justin Riddell, Todd Holtkamp in 20015.10cThe WandererFA: Joel Handley, Dustin Stephens (2015)5.11aCrouching TigerFA: Ray Ellington5.12-Solar FlareFA: Symon Ardila, Dustin Stephens5.12bHidden DragonFA: Ray Ellington5.12cSpinnacleFA: Erik Farley, Elke Breitbach in 19945.2Thunderbolt MountainFA: Erik Farley, Kirk Fatool (1992)5.4Menifee MethFA: Andrew Tolliver, Casey Combs5.5Double HelixFA: Erik Farley, Elke Breitbach in 19935.6The Misadventures of Nabisco County, Jr.FA: Erik Farley, 19945.6The X FilesFA: Erik Farley, Elke Breitback (1994)5.6Please Don't Feed the TriceratopsFA: Erik Farley, 19935.7Ride 'em CowboyFA: Erick Farley, Elke Fatool5.7Ol' YellerFA: Dustin Stephens, Symon Ardila in 20155.7+Danger MouseFA: Erik Farley, 19935.8Edge of NightFA: Erik Farley, 19925.8The RefrigeratorFA: Erik Farley, MIke Dunne, 19925.8-BitchmobileFA: Dave Hill, Erik Farley in 19915.8+Super GunFA: Erik Farley, Elke Breitbach, 19935.9It's a Wonderful LifeFA: Erik Farley, MIke Dunne, 19975.9+DreamsFA: C. Chaney, 2000V3+When Doves CryFA: Kris HamptonV4

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