North Carolina · Rock climbing · Lake Lure

The Cluster

Cluster, The is a bouldering area in North Carolina with 6 routes.

6 routes

V2 – V5

Bouldering

Best time to visit The Cluster

Best months: February–June and September–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
50° / 28°
9 wet
Feb
55° / 30°
8 wet
Mar
62° / 36°
9 wet
Apr
72° / 44°
9 wet
May
78° / 54°
10 wet
Jun
85° / 63°
11 wet
Jul
88° / 67°
11 wet
Aug
87° / 66°
10 wet
Sep
81° / 59°
8 wet
Oct
72° / 47°
7 wet
Nov
63° / 36°
7 wet
Dec
53° / 30°
8 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Lure 2, NC, 2.7 mi away at 1,040 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Cluster is a bouldering area in North Carolina, about 1.3 miles from the town of Quail Ridge. It sits among a cluster of other bouldering spots, with Short Crack Boulder, Bart Simpson Boulder and Devil Boulder all about 0.1 mile away. The area is a compact, close-together set of boulders, and the routes here are all bouldering grades from V2 to V5. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically spring and fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake Lure show October highs around 72°F with lows near 47°F, and April is similar at about 72°F by day and 44°F at night. That station sits roughly 570 feet lower than the cluster, so temperatures on the boulders run a little cooler. The routes here are all bouldering, and the grade range runs from V2 to V5. Split Crack is the easiest at V2, and Red Sleigh Down is the hardest at V5. Mike's Slab and The Harvest are both around V4. The Rumbling Bald Loop hike is about 0.4 mile away, and the Party Rock Trail is about a mile off. Lake Lure is roughly 1.6 miles away, and the Broad River, a canoeing route, is about 3.5 miles away.