North Carolina · Rock climbing · Arden

East Slate Rock

East Slate Rock in North Carolina has 18 climbing routes across 9 grades, offering sport and trad styles.

18 routes
5.7+ – 5.11a
Trad · Sport

Is East Slate Rock open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name East Slate Rock, 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 East Slate Rock

Best months: March–April 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.

  1. Jan

    49° / 26°

    11 wet

  2. Feb

    53° / 28°

    10 wet

  3. Mar

    60° / 34°

    12 wet

  4. Apr

    69° / 41°

    12 wet

  5. May

    75° / 50°

    13 wet

  6. Jun

    81° / 58°

    15 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 62°

    16 wet

  8. Aug

    83° / 61°

    16 wet

  9. Sep

    78° / 55°

    12 wet

  10. Oct

    70° / 43°

    10 wet

  11. Nov

    61° / 33°

    9 wet

  12. Dec

    52° / 28°

    11 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pisgah Forest 3 Ne, NC, 9.2 mi away at 2,190 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

East Slate Rock is a climbing area in North Carolina's Pisgah Ranger District, part of the National Forests in North Carolina. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits among a cluster of hiking trails and other climbing spots in the district's upper reaches. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs near 69°F in April to 70°F in October, with July highs around 84°F. That station sits roughly 1,300 feet lower than the area, so temperatures here run cooler. The routes here are mostly traditional, with 17 trad routes and one sport route. Grades range from 5.7+ to 5.11+. Among the named routes are Slither and Flap at 5.7+, Lanier Route at 5.8, and The Handrail at 5.11a. Nearby, the Pilot Cove hike is about half a mile away and Pilot Rock about 1.3 miles. First Boulders, a climbing area, is about 3 miles off, and the South Fork Mills River offers paddling a little farther out.

Routes (18)

ClawhammerFA: Nick Colquitt, Mike Neuenshwander5.10bLearning CurveFA: Mike Reardon, Kayah Gaydish5.10bClean SlateFA: Mike Reardon, Ben Newman, Nick Colquitt5.10cDibsFA: Nathan Brown5.10cFull Term PachydermFA: Mike Reardon, Matt Nathans, David Hall, Loy Hall 20145.10cSly MackayeFA: Mike Reardon, Kayah Gaydish5.10cBetter Slate Than NeverFA: Nathan Brown, Daryl MacInnes5.11Slybrows (Nick's Groove)FA: Nick Colquitt, Nathan Brown5.11Eye CandyFA: NB (rope-solo)5.11+Slater AlligatorFA: Mike Reardon, Gary Pisano5.11aThe HandrailFA: Mike Reardon5.11aSlither and FlapFA: Mike Reardon, Ken Pitts, Nick Colquit 20135.7+Blockader's GloryFA: Mike Reardon and Kayah Gaydish5.8Knobby KnubsFA: Mike Reardon Will and Yill Abernathy5.8Lanier RouteFA: Rodney Lanier5.8North Crackalacky5.8AmputationFA: Ken Pitts, Nick Colquitt, Mike Reardon 20135.9Slate Night BootyFA: Nick Colquitt, Mike Reardon5.9+

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

North SidePhoto: ninepennies, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Side

~13 min drive

North Side in North Carolina has 40 climbing routes across 24 grades, offering mixed and traditional styles.

Northside BouldersPhoto: ninepennies, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Northside Boulders

~13 min drive

Northside Boulders in North Carolina has 18 bouldering routes.

Nose AreaPhoto: ninepennies, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Nose Area

~13 min drive

Nose Area in North Carolina has 12 climbing routes across 11 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Sun WallPhoto: Osajus Photography, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sun Wall

~13 min drive

Sun Wall in North Carolina has 22 climbing routes across 13 grades.

Looking Glass BouldersPhoto: Osajus Photography, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Looking Glass Boulders

~13 min drive

Looking Glass Boulders in North Carolina has 4 bouldering routes.

South SidePhoto: jasonferrell, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

South Side

~13 min drive

South Side in North Carolina has 28 climbing routes with mixed and trad styles.

Hidden WallPhoto: jasonferrell, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hidden Wall

~14 min drive

Hidden Wall is a North Carolina climbing crag with 11 routes.

PumpkintownPhoto: Dallas Epperson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pumpkintown

~41 min drive

Pumpkintown in South Carolina has 4 sport climbing routes with 3 difficulty grades.

Main Wall Left of Center ButtressPhoto: Dallas Epperson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Main Wall Left of Center Buttress

~41 min drive

Main Wall Left of Center Buttress in South Carolina has 14 climbing routes.

Knobtopia Wall (Main Wall right of Center Buttress)Photo: Dallas Epperson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Knobtopia Wall (Main Wall right of Center Buttress)

~41 min drive

Knobtopia Wall (Main Wall right of Center Buttress) is a climbing area in South Carolina with 6 routes.