Kentucky · Rock climbing · Beattyville

Rival Wall

Rival Wall in Kentucky has 11 climbing routes across 9 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Photo: Jarek Tuszyński (user:Jarekt), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

11 routes

5.6 – 5.12a

Sport · Trad

Is Rival Wall open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Daniel Boone National Forest. It doesn't name Rival Wall, 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 Oct 25, 9:40 pm EDT · Source: USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Rival Wall

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.

Jan
42° / 24°
13 wet
Feb
47° / 27°
13 wet
Mar
57° / 34°
15 wet
Apr
68° / 44°
15 wet
May
75° / 53°
15 wet
Jun
82° / 61°
14 wet
Jul
84° / 65°
14 wet
Aug
84° / 64°
12 wet
Sep
79° / 57°
10 wet
Oct
69° / 44°
12 wet
Nov
57° / 35°
12 wet
Dec
46° / 28°
13 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Beattyville 4n, KY, 1.3 mi away at 1,080 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Rival Wall is a climbing area in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest, within the Cumberland Ranger District and the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve. It's managed by a non-governmental organization and sits about 0.1 mile from three other climbing areas: Courtesy Wall, What About Bob Wall and The Playground. That makes it easy to pair with a visit to any of those nearby walls. The climbing here runs from about 5.6 to 5.12a, with sport routes making up most of the 11 routes. Two of the 11 are trad, including The Cheerleader Catch at 5.6. Sport routes like Monobrow at 5.10a and Lobster Claw at 5.12a round out the range. The grades are typical for the area, so climbers can expect a mix of moderate and more challenging lines. Fall is a comfortable time to climb. At a nearby weather station in Beattyville, typical October highs average about 69°F with lows around 44°F, and September runs a little warmer with fewer wet days. Nearby, the Sheltowee Trace high water route is about 2.7 miles away. For an overnight stay, Lago Linda Hideaway campground is about 4.2 miles off.