North Carolina · Rock climbing · Morganton

Henson Creek Canyon

Henson Creek Canyon in North Carolina has 5 mixed and trad climbing routes across 4 grades.

Henson Creek CanyonPhoto: LetTheCardsFall, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
5 routes
5.10+ – 5.12+
Trad · Mixed

Is Henson Creek Canyon open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name Henson Creek Canyon, 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 Henson Creek Canyon

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.

  1. Jan

    45° / 24°

  2. Feb

    47° / 26°

  3. Mar

    55° / 32°

  4. Apr

    64° / 39°

  5. May

    71° / 48°

  6. Jun

    78° / 57°

  7. Jul

    81° / 60°

  8. Aug

    80° / 59°

  9. Sep

    74° / 53°

  10. Oct

    65° / 42°

  11. Nov

    56° / 31°

  12. Dec

    48° / 27°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Spruce Pine 2 Ne, NC, 7.3 mi away at 2,850 ft. The station sits about 500 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.

Henson Creek Canyon is a climbing area in the Grandfather Ranger District of the National Forests in North Carolina, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking destinations, with Conley Cove and Table Rock Summit both about 0.1 mile away. The canyon's climbing is all trad, with one mixed route, and the grades run from 5.10+ up to 5.12+. Cookie Monster is the easiest at 5.10+, and Master of Puppets and The Grouch are the hardest at 5.12a and 5.12+. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 74°F, with July the warmest month at about 81°F. That station sits roughly 520 feet lower than the canyon, so temperatures here run a little cooler. Linville Falls Campground is about 6 miles away, and the Linville River offers fishing about 5 miles off. Paddlers can head to Irish Creek, and the Brown Mountain Cua Roadside Campsites are about 8 miles away.

Routes (5)

Master of Puppets Area(1)

Master of Puppets5.12a

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