North Carolina · Rock climbing · Morganton

Amphitheater

Amphitheater is a 26-route climbing crag in North Carolina with 13 difficulty grades.

26 routes
5.3 – 5.12a
Trad

Is Amphitheater open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name Amphitheater, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · National Forests in North Carolina. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Amphitheater

Best months: March–October. 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

    45° / 24°

  2. Feb

    47° / 26°

  3. Mar

    55° / 32°

  4. Apr

    64° / 39°

  5. May

    71° / 48°

  6. Jun

    78° / 57°

  7. Jul

    81° / 60°

  8. Aug

    80° / 59°

  9. Sep

    74° / 53°

  10. Oct

    65° / 42°

  11. Nov

    56° / 31°

  12. Dec

    48° / 27°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Spruce Pine 2 Ne, NC, 7.4 mi away at 2,850 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Amphitheater is a climbing area in the Linville Gorge Wilderness, part of the Grandfather Ranger District of the National Forests in North Carolina. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits within designated wilderness, which sets it apart from other climbing spots in the state. The climbing here is all trad, with 26 routes spread across a range from 5.3 to 5.12a. The easiest is The Prow Right at 5.3, and the hardest is Turkey Beard at 5.12a. The Camel and North Carolina Wall are both within half a mile, so climbers can easily pair this area with those. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Spruce Pine show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 74°F, with July peaking near 81°F. Other nearby options include Table Rock Summit and Shortoff, both about 1.2 miles away, and Linville Falls Campground, roughly 7 miles off.

Routes (26)

TrinidadFA: Thomas Kelley and Ralph Fickel (1985)5.10aLand of the little peopleFA: Thomas Kelly, Ralph Fickle, Mark Stroud, 19865.11aThe Open BookFA: FA: Guy Jacobson, Gil Harder, 1978. FFA: Bob Rotert, Randy Mann and Ted Anderson5.11bCryptic TripFA: Brady Robinson5.11cOut of sight out of mindFA: Nathan Brown, Jon Foster, fall '065.11cTurkey BeardFA: Doug Reed, Chip Self, 19865.12aThe Prow Right5.3Good Heavens ProwFA: Ralph Fickle, Phil Pierce ( Oct/79)5.4The ProwFA: Jed Williamson, Mark Calkins, Andy Damp - 19705.4The Prow (lower pitches)FA: Williamson, Calkins, Damp (1970)5.4Good HeavensFA: Bob Mitchell and Bob Gillespie - 19705.5The MummyFA: Bob Gillespie, Bob Mitchell, Steve Longenecker, 19715.5Holy MosesFA: Bob Mitchell, Art williams 19725.6Short Cake5.6The DaddyFA: Art Williams, Mike Holloway - 19725.6Sister Seagull5.7Brothers StartFA: Ferguson Brothers (1974)5.7+Good Heavens variation (a.k.a. Cave variation)5.7+Heckfire Left var.FA: Tom Howard and Rodger ?5.7+Lost in SpaceFA: Peter Noebles, Lyle Dean 19805.8Skunk Crack5.8Iguana CrackFA: Bob Rotert, ted Anderson 19795.9Rattlesnake CrackFA: Tom Howard, Bruce Meneghin 19775.9S. D. ModianoFA: Mike Dunn and Sean Cobourn5.9The Grimy5.9The LimeyFA: Art Williams, Mike Holloway, Bob Mitchell early 1970s?5.9

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