Laurel Knob
Near Glenville
- 86 routes
- 5.7 – 5.12d
- Trad · Mixed · Sport
Is Laurel Knob open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name Laurel Knob, 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 · Source: USFS · National Forests in North Carolina. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Laurel Knob
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, 7 mi away at 3,200 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Laurel Knob is a climbing area in the Nantahala Ranger District of the National Forests in North Carolina, about 1.7 miles from the Big Green climbing area and roughly 1.4 miles from the Granny Burrell Falls hike. The area holds 86 routes, with trad climbing making up the bulk of them and sport climbing the exception. Grades run from 5.7 to 5.12d, with the median around 5.10+. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake Toxaway show May highs around 73°F and September highs around 73°F, with July the warmest month at about 79°F and the most wet days. Several other climbing and hiking spots sit within a couple of miles, including Black Rock and Great Wall. Wolf Creek Lake Dispersed Campsites is about 6.7 miles away, and paddlers can reach the West Fork French Broad River at about 8.3 miles.
Routes (86)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Main North Face
~12 min drive
Main North Face in North Carolina has 6 trad routes across 5 difficulty grades.
Photo: Osajus Photography, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Looking Glass Boulders
~31 min drive
Looking Glass Boulders in North Carolina has 4 bouldering routes.
Photo: Osajus Photography, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Sun Wall
~31 min drive
Sun Wall in North Carolina has 22 climbing routes across 13 grades.
Photo: jasonferrell, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Hidden Wall
~31 min drive
Hidden Wall is a North Carolina climbing crag with 11 routes.
Photo: jasonferrell, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)South Side
~31 min drive
South Side in North Carolina has 28 climbing routes with mixed and trad styles.
Photo: ninepennies, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Nose Area
~31 min drive
Nose Area in North Carolina has 12 climbing routes across 11 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
Photo: ninepennies, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Northside Boulders
~32 min drive
Northside Boulders in North Carolina has 18 bouldering routes.
Photo: ninepennies, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)North Side
~32 min drive
North Side in North Carolina has 40 climbing routes across 24 grades, offering mixed and traditional styles.
Photo: jasonferrell, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)East Face/Guides Wall (Right Side)
~31 min drive
6 traditional climbing routes on East Face/Guides Wall right side, North Carolina.
Big Green
~3 min drive
Big Green in North Carolina has 29 climbing routes across 16 grades, offering sport and trad options.
