North Carolina · Rock climbing · Highlands

Catwalk

Catwalk is a North Carolina climbing crag with 16 routes across 12 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

16 routes

5.8+ – 5.12d

Trad · Sport

Is Catwalk open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Rainbow Springs Road closed for reconstruction
Agency closure covering National Forests in North Carolina · USFS · National Forests in North Carolina
Closures in anticipation of Hurricane Isaias
Agency closure covering National Forests in North Carolina · USFS · National Forests in North Carolina
Siddie Fields Day Use Area closed for improvements
Agency alert covering National Forests in North Carolina · USFS · National Forests in North Carolina
Pisgah National Forest Driving Safety Alert
Agency alert covering National Forests in North Carolina · USFS · National Forests in North Carolina

As of Oct 25, 9:15 pm EDT · Source: USFS · National Forests in North Carolina. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Catwalk

Best months: September–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.

Jan
42° / 24°
14 wet
Feb
46° / 26°
13 wet
Mar
54° / 32°
14 wet
Apr
62° / 39°
13 wet
May
69° / 47°
14 wet
Jun
75° / 54°
15 wet
Jul
78° / 58°
17 wet
Aug
76° / 57°
16 wet
Sep
71° / 51°
12 wet
Oct
63° / 41°
11 wet
Nov
53° / 32°
11 wet
Dec
45° / 27°
14 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Highlands, NC, 4.1 mi away at 3,850 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Catwalk is a climbing area in the Nantahala Ranger District of the National Forests in North Carolina, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing areas, with Southeast Face about 0.3 miles away and Main North Face and Southwest Corner each about 0.6 miles off. The area has 16 routes, with 11 in trad and 5 in sport. The YDS grades run from 5.8+ up to 5.12d. Among the named routes are Black Bear Surprise at 5.8+ and Flaming Tits at 5.12a, along with Statutory at 5.10d, which was first climbed by David Young and Jim Corbett in 1996. For timing, typical averages from a nearby weather station in Highlands, NC, put July highs around 78°F with lows near 58°F, while September is milder at about 71°F by day and 51°F at night. Winter is cold, with January highs around 42°F. Nearby, Norton Mill and Yellow Mountain are hikes within about 4 miles, and Van Hook Glade Campground is about 6 miles away.