North Carolina · Rock climbing · Lake Lure

Driver Boulder

Driver Boulder in North Carolina has 6 bouldering routes protected by pads.

6 routes

V2+ – V11

Bouldering

Best time to visit Driver Boulder

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, 2.5 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.

Driver Boulder is a bouldering area in North Carolina, about a mile from the community of Quail Ridge. It sits among a cluster of climbing areas, with The Pit and The Gym just 0.1 mile away, and the Rumbling Bald Loop hike about 0.4 mile off. The closest town is Quail Ridge, and the Lake Lure fishing access lies about 1.3 miles away. The area is a bouldering destination, with six routes all rated on the V scale. The grades range from V2+ to V11, with the hardest route, Honest Able, at V11. The Driver route is listed at V3+. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. 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 560 feet lower than the boulders, so temperatures on the rock run cooler.