North Carolina · Rock climbing · Bear Creek

Black Bear Buttress

Black Bear Buttress in North Carolina has 21 climbing routes with mixed and traditional protection.

21 routes
5.7 – 5.12
Trad · Mixed

Best time to visit Black Bear Buttress

Best months: February–May and September–December. 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

    53° / 31°

    9 wet

  2. Feb

    57° / 33°

    8 wet

  3. Mar

    65° / 39°

    9 wet

  4. Apr

    75° / 47°

    9 wet

  5. May

    81° / 56°

    9 wet

  6. Jun

    87° / 64°

    9 wet

  7. Jul

    90° / 69°

    10 wet

  8. Aug

    88° / 67°

    10 wet

  9. Sep

    83° / 61°

    7 wet

  10. Oct

    74° / 49°

    7 wet

  11. Nov

    63° / 38°

    7 wet

  12. Dec

    55° / 33°

    9 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sanford 8 Ne, NC, 13.8 mi away at 262 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Black Bear Buttress is a climbing area in North Carolina, about 3 miles from the town of Goldston. It sits among several other climbing areas, with Hound Ears, Desperado Wall and The Main Wall all within about a tenth of a mile. That makes it easy to pair with those neighbors on a single visit. The area has 21 routes, all but one of them trad, with grades ranging from 5.7 to 5.12. The hardest is Jam Sandwich at 5.12, and the easiest is Easy Flake at 5.7. Most of the routes were first ascended by climbers including Sean Cobourn, Eddie Medina and Derek Kozlowski between 2005 and 2005. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Sanford show October highs around 74°F with lows near 49°F, and April highs around 75°F. July is the warmest month, with typical highs near 90°F. Paddlers can head to Bear Creek, about 4 miles away, or Indian Creek, about 5 miles away. Hikers will find Rocky Bluffs Trail roughly 6.5 miles off.