North Carolina · Rock climbing · Tuckasegee

Horseshoe Rock

Horseshoe Rock in North Carolina has 4 climbing routes with mixed, sport, and trad styles.

4 routes

5.3 – 5.9

Sport · Trad · Mixed

Is Horseshoe Rock open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Best months: March–May 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
46° / 27°
11 wet
Feb
50° / 29°
10 wet
Mar
57° / 35°
11 wet
Apr
67° / 42°
11 wet
May
73° / 51°
12 wet
Jun
76° / 60°
14 wet
Jul
79° / 63°
16 wet
Aug
77° / 62°
14 wet
Sep
73° / 56°
10 wet
Oct
65° / 45°
9 wet
Nov
56° / 36°
9 wet
Dec
49° / 31°
11 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Toxaway 2 Sw, NC, 10 mi away at 3,200 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.

Horseshoe Rock is a climbing area in North Carolina's National Forests in North Carolina, within the Nantahala Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the climbing sits among a cluster of other climbing and outdoor spots in the district. The routes here run from about 5.3 to 5.9 on the YDS scale. High Plains Drifter Traverse is a trad route at 5.3, and Tennessee Stud is a sport route at 5.9. Camptown Races and Dodge City round out the list, with the latter a mixed route at 5.7. The most comfortable climbing months are typically May and September, when typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake Toxaway run to highs of about 73°F and lows in the mid-50s. That station sits roughly 750 feet lower than the area, so temperatures at Horseshoe Rock run a little cooler. Cheers Ledge is just 0.1 mile away, and Wolf Creek Lake Dispersed Campsites is about 1.8 miles off. Hikers can reach Malonee at 2.2 miles and Wolf Creek Gorge at 2.6 miles.