Kentucky · Rock climbing · Beattyville

The Playground

12-route climbing area in Kentucky with sport and trad options.

The PlaygroundPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński (user:Jarekt), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
12 routes
5.7 – 5.11d
Sport · Trad

Is Playground, The open right now?

Closure in the area

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

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

The Playground 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 Shady Grove and Rival Wall climbing areas, all of which sit about 0.1 mile away. The area has 12 routes, with 10 of them sport climbing and two trad. The grades run from 5.7 up to 5.11d, with the median around 5.10+. Among the named routes are Monkey Bars at 5.10a, Jungle Gym at 5.10b/c and Crack the Whip at 5.11d. 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 see the fewest wet days of the year. Nearby, the Sheltowee Trace high water route is about 2.6 miles away, and Lago Linda Hideaway campground is about 4.2 miles away.

Routes (12)

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