North Carolina · Rock climbing · Newland

The Flackamite/Pirate wall

16-route climbing area in North Carolina with bouldering, sport, and trad.

16 routes

5.7 – 5.11c

Trad · Sport · Bouldering

Is Flackamite/Pirate wall, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name Flackamite/Pirate wall, The, 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 The Flackamite/Pirate wall

Best months: March–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
45° / 24°
Feb
47° / 26°
Mar
55° / 32°
Apr
64° / 39°
May
71° / 48°
Jun
78° / 57°
Jul
81° / 60°
Aug
80° / 59°
Sep
74° / 53°
Oct
65° / 42°
Nov
56° / 31°
Dec
48° / 27°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Spruce Pine 2 Ne, NC, 6.3 mi away at 2,850 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

The Flackamite/Pirate wall is a climbing area in the Linville Gorge Wilderness, part of the Grandfather Ranger District of the National Forests in North Carolina. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits within designated wilderness, which sets it apart from other climbing spots in the state. The climbing here is a mix of trad and sport routes, with a few boulders. Of the 16 routes listed, the easiest is Somalian Pirate at 5.7, and the hardest is Where the Sun Don't Shine at 5.11c. The median grade is 5.10. The wall's name points to its two main features, Flackamite and Pirate, and the routes are spread across them. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Spruce Pine run from highs around 71°F in May to 74°F in September, and the station sits roughly 800 feet lower than the wall, so temperatures on the cliff run cooler. Sitting Bear Spire is just 0.1 mile away, and Devils Hole and Raspberry Ridge are both within a mile. Linville Falls Campground is about 3.6 miles off.