North Carolina · Rock climbing · Morganton

Middle Hawksbill

Near Morganton

Middle HawksbillPhoto: npdoty, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
29 routes
5.7 – 5.13a
Sport · Trad · Mixed

Is Middle Hawksbill open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name Middle 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 Middle 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 900 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.

Middle 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 a mix of sport, trad and mixed routes, with 29 routes in total. The grades run from 5.7 up to 5.13a, and the median is 5.11b. Among the named routes are Green Wall (5.7, mixed), Lichen Surprise (5.10a, sport) and Triple Bypass (5.13a, mixed). The area is close to Lower Hawksbill and Main Wall, both about 0.1 mile away. For timing, summer is the warmest stretch, with typical July highs around 81°F and lows near 60°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Spruce Pine. That station sits roughly 900 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 about 3.6 miles off.

Routes (29)

Jug RouteFA: Mike Fischesser, Pete Luellen5.10-Dead Man's Head in a Mason Jar5.10aIf You Bolt It They Will ComeFA: Mike Fischesser - 19935.10aLichen SurpriseFA: Mike Fischesser - 19935.10aLichen InspectorFA: Mike Fischesser5.10bThe Green WaveFA: Mike Fischesser, Pete Luellen - 19945.10b/cTraditionally CertifiedFA: Mike Fichesser, Pete Luellen, Lee Carter 19945.10cNo Free LunchFA: Dan Caldwell, Tim Snyder5.10c/dHemlock AreteFA: Zachary Lesch-Huie5.10dCarpe FreeumFA: Tom Howard, Lee Carter5.11-The Diamond RoofFA: Mike Fischesser, Pete Luellen 19945.11-Fat Girls Can't Jump5.11+Pseudo HardmenFA: Mike Fischesser - 19935.11aPrepare to QualifyFA: Chris Dorrity (rope solo)5.11bLunch at the YFA: Mike Fischesser, Gerald Laws5.11b/cReal Hard MenFA: Mike Fischesser5.11dBongo FuryFA: Ron Dawson5.12-The Courageous Grace GreenleeFA: Chris Dorrity (rope solo)5.12+Manifest DestinyFA: Chris Dorrity (rope solo)5.12bAppalachian SpringFA: Bruce Burgess, Lea Crandall, 19935.12b/cHard Rock CafeFA: Bruce Burgess, Jeff Burton, 19945.12b/cLine of FireFA: Bruce Burgess, Lea Crandall 19945.12cTips AhoyFA: Equipped by Jeff Burton in 1994, FFA Unclear.5.12dTweakend (AKA Pascal's Route)FA: Pascal Robert5.12dTriple BypassFA: Bill Hebb - 20095.13aGreen WallFA: Mike Fischesser5.7Lichen WormsFA: Mike Fischesser5.8+Lackey VisionFA: Joe Lackey, Pete Luellen, Mike Fischesser5.9LuciferinFA: Lynn Willis, Matt Paden, May 20165.9+

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