North Carolina · Rock climbing · Highlands

Left of main southeast face

Left of main southeast face in North Carolina has 15 climbing routes on mixed and trad.

15 routes
5.8 – 5.12a
Trad · Mixed

Is Left of main southeast face open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name Left of main southeast face, 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 Left of main southeast face

Best months: September–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

    42° / 24°

    14 wet

  2. Feb

    46° / 26°

    13 wet

  3. Mar

    54° / 32°

    14 wet

  4. Apr

    62° / 39°

    13 wet

  5. May

    69° / 47°

    14 wet

  6. Jun

    75° / 54°

    15 wet

  7. Jul

    78° / 58°

    17 wet

  8. Aug

    76° / 57°

    16 wet

  9. Sep

    71° / 51°

    12 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 41°

    11 wet

  11. Nov

    53° / 32°

    11 wet

  12. Dec

    45° / 27°

    14 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Highlands, NC, 3.6 mi away at 3,850 ft. The station sits about 700 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.

Left of main southeast face is a climbing area in the Nantahala Ranger District of the National Forests in North Carolina, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing areas, with Southwest Corner and Main North Face each about 0.2 miles away and Southeast Face about 0.4 miles off. The area holds 15 routes, mostly trad with a few mixed, and the grades run from 5.8 up to 5.12a. Among the named routes are Save the Shrimp at 5.8, One Pitch Wonder at 5.10c, and Crimpers delight at 5.12a. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Highlands, NC, show May highs around 69°F and September highs around 71°F, with July the warmest month at about 78°F. That station sits roughly 700 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures up high run cooler. Nearby, Norton Mill and Glade Trail are hikes within about 4 miles, and Van Hook Glade Campground is about 6 miles away.

Routes (15)

TreatFA: Nathan Brown, Andrew Mcdowell5.10+TrickFA: Nathan Brown, Andrew Mcdowell5.10+One Pitch WonderFA: Shannon Stegg and Stewart Coffield, 19985.10cUnknown5.10c/dEsotericFA: Pitch 3 Shannon Stegg/lower pitches Michael Stitcher & DV/ upper pitches Frost Walker et al (ground up)5.11SpooktacularFA: Nathan Brown (rope-solo)5.11Lucky 13th (CRS) pitch 1 - 5.10c, pitch 2 5.11+FA: Nathan Brown mostly rope solo with help from Jason Bremmer on P-2. 2006 Andrew Mcdowell did the redpoint on P-2 in 20105.11+Unknown 25.11+Sailor MoonFA: Shannon Stegg et al.5.11bZombie SpoofFA: Andrew Mcdowell, Nathan Brown 20105.11b/cScarecrowFA: A.M., N.B.5.11cSeam of DreamsFA: Andrew M. and Nathan Brown5.11cOn second thoughtFA: Nathan Brown, Andrew Mcdowell, Dennis Merritt5.11dCrimpers delightFA: Nathan Brown, Jonathan Foster5.12aSave the ShrimpFA: 1980 JD & SF5.8

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