Kentucky · Rock climbing · Beattyville

South Park

South Park in Kentucky has 19 sport climbing routes with 15 difficulty grades.

South ParkPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński (user:Jarekt), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
19 routes
5.6 – 5.13
Sport

Is South Park open right now?

Closure in the area

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

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

South Park 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 The Unlode and Hole New Wall each about 0.1 mile away and B-Hole Wall about 0.2 mile off. The area is a hub of sport climbing, with 19 routes spread across a range from 5.6 to 5.13. 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 October cooling to about 69°F. The routes here run the gamut from the 5.6 "Beginnings" to the 5.13 "Improbableh, but not Impossibleh." "Kanye West is a Gay Fish!" is a 5.12a, and "Jet Ski Joy Rider" is a 5.11a.

Routes (19)

Tears of Unfathomable Sadness5.10+About Tree Fiddy5.10bIt's a Jersey ThingFA: Dylan Grass, John Sloan, 20195.10bThe Dong WallFA: Tanner Wilson5.10bDrugs are Bad, Mkay?FA: Clay Prasse, 20195.10cA Bunch of Tree-Hugging Hippie Crap5.10dAccountabilibuddiesFA: James Blanchard, Billy Simek (2021)5.10dJet Ski Joy Rider5.11aKyle's Mom is a Big Fat BitchFA: Jimmy Hoctor, 20195.11bHippie Core Drill MachineFA: Ralph Woolard, Jordan Katz, Ian Kirk5.12aKanye West is a Gay Fish!FA: John Sloan, Leor Gold, 20195.12aCow DaysFA: Scott Curran5.12bBig Gay Al's Big Gay BoatrideFA: Scott Curran5.12cBlame CanadaFA: Ian Kirk5.12dImprobableh, but not ImpossiblehFA: Closed Project5.13BeginningsFA: Jackie Neuman, Austin Gornet5.6A Crash Pad Love StoryFA: Jesse Wilson (2020)5.7Festively Plump5.8+Quantity Over QualityFA: Scott Curran, Steve Fedak5.9

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

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

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Hole New WallPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński (user:Jarekt), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hole New Wall

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B-Hole WallPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński (user:Jarekt), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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A-Hole WallPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński (user:Jarekt), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

A-Hole Wall

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The UnHoley WallPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński (user:Jarekt), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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The Bear's DenPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński (user:Jarekt), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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(1) Buckeye Buttress

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

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

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The GetawayPhoto: MarkDoliner, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Getaway

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Getaway, Kentucky climbing area with 10 routes, 6 grades, sport and trad.