Kentucky · Rock climbing · Frenchburg

Staircase Wall

Staircase Wall in Kentucky has 5 climbing routes with mixed and sport styles.

5 routes

5.3 – 5.10

Sport · Mixed

Is Staircase Wall open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Daniel Boone National Forest. It doesn't name Staircase 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, 9:15 pm EDT · Source: USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Staircase 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, 15.7 mi away at 1,080 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Staircase Wall 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 a cluster of short hikes, with the Indian Staircase Trail and Adena Arch Trail each about 0.3 miles away. The climbing here is sport and mixed, with five routes ranging from 5.3 to 5.10. The easiest is Beginner's Staircase at 5.3, and the hardest is Batman's Warm Up at 5.10. Stairway to Heaven is the only mixed route, at 5.3. All were first ascended by Bill Strachan, with Stairway to Heaven also involving Peter Hogabaum. For a change of pace, Princess Arch and Phantasia are climbing areas about 1.3 and 1.4 miles away. Indian Creek Camping Area is about 3.3 miles off, and the Middle Fork Red River offers paddling about 6 miles away.