North Carolina · Rock climbing · Morganton

Lower Hawksbill

Lower Hawksbill in North Carolina has 18 routes across 11 grades, offering mixed and traditional climbing.

Lower HawksbillPhoto: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
18 routes
5.10a/b – 5.13a
Trad · Mixed

Is Lower Hawksbill open right now?

Closure in the area

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

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, 6.5 mi away at 2,850 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.

Lower Hawksbill 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 all trad, with one mixed route, and the grade range runs from 5.10a/b up to 5.13a. Jeep's Chimney is the easiest route at 5.10a/b, and Conventional Warfare is the hardest at 5.13a. Middle Hawksbill and Main Wall are both about 0.1 mile away, so the area is compact and easy to pair with other climbs. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Spruce Pine show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 74°F, with July peaking near 81°F. That station sits about 700 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. Nearby, Jonas Ridge and the Hawksbill hike are both within half a mile. Linville Falls Campground is about 4.5 miles away, and the Linville River offers fishing roughly 3.5 miles off.

Routes (18)

Jeep's ChimneyFA: Jeep Barrett, Steve Owen5.10a/bKing of Kings roof finish (P-2)FA: Nathan Brown, Brian Espe5.11HaikuFA: Doug Reed, Ron Dawson5.11aHairy CanaryFA: Thomas Kelley, Lee Carter5.11aJig Zag5.11aThe Fat LadyFA: Lee Carter, Tom Howard, Thomas Kelly5.11aEncoreFA: Bruce Burgess, Galen Howell5.11bSenior MomentFA: Bruce Burgess, Andy Kluge5.11bGorilla TacticsFA: NB (rope-solo)5.11cPhantom of the OperaFA: Bruce Burgess, Galen Howell5.11cKing of KingsFA: Galen Howell, John Jackson5.11dThe Diving BoardFA: Doug Reed, Thomas Kelly, Tom Howard, Lee Carter5.11dSpace InvadersFA: Richie Hum, Nathan Brown5.12Trundle From Down Under5.12aWhip-or-will5.12aKidsmokeFA: Harrison Shull, Pat Goodman July 4, 20075.12b/cIce Cream DirectFA: Doug Reed, Tim Fisher5.12cConventional WarfareFA: Bruce Burgess, Sam Stevenson - 1989 FFA: Bruce Burgess - 19915.13a

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