North Carolina · Rock climbing · Highlands

Main North Face

Main North Face in North Carolina has 6 trad routes across 5 difficulty grades.

Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

6 routes

5.10+ – 5.12b

Trad

Is Main North Face open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Jan
42° / 24°
14 wet
Feb
46° / 26°
13 wet
Mar
54° / 32°
14 wet
Apr
62° / 39°
13 wet
May
69° / 47°
14 wet
Jun
75° / 54°
15 wet
Jul
78° / 58°
17 wet
Aug
76° / 57°
16 wet
Sep
71° / 51°
12 wet
Oct
63° / 41°
11 wet
Nov
53° / 32°
11 wet
Dec
45° / 27°
14 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Highlands, NC, 3.5 mi away at 3,850 ft. The station sits about 600 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.

Main North Face is a climbing area in the Nantahala Ranger District of the National Forests in North Carolina, about 0.1 mile from Southwest Corner and 0.2 mile from Left of main southeast face. It sits among several named climbing areas in this part of the forest, with Southeast Face about half a mile away. The closest town is Highlands, roughly 3.5 miles off. The weather station at Highlands, at 3,850 feet, sits about 600 feet lower than the climbing area. Typical averages there run from highs near 42°F in January to around 78°F in July, with September highs near 71°F and lows around 51°F. The area holds six trad routes, all rated between 5.10+ and 5.12b. They include Fight The Power Drill (5.10+), Dirty Love (5.11) and the Curt Johnson Memorial Route (5.12b). Climbers can also look to Southeast Face, Norton Mill and Van Hook Glade Campground within a few miles.