North Carolina · Rock climbing · Lake Lure

Rumbling Bald

12 climbing routes at Rumbling Bald in North Carolina range across 9 difficulty grades.

12 routes

5.8 – 5.12b/c

Trad · Sport

Best time to visit Rumbling Bald

Best months: February–June 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
50° / 28°
9 wet
Feb
55° / 30°
8 wet
Mar
62° / 36°
9 wet
Apr
72° / 44°
9 wet
May
78° / 54°
10 wet
Jun
85° / 63°
11 wet
Jul
88° / 67°
11 wet
Aug
87° / 66°
10 wet
Sep
81° / 59°
8 wet
Oct
72° / 47°
7 wet
Nov
63° / 36°
7 wet
Dec
53° / 30°
8 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Lure 2, NC, 2.5 mi away at 1,040 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Rumbling Bald is a climbing area in North Carolina, about a mile from the community of Quail Ridge. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with the Lakeview Area, Hickory Nutcracker Area and The Cave all within a tenth of a mile. The Rumbling Bald Loop hike starts about 0.4 miles away, and the Party Rock Trail is roughly 0.7 miles off. The climbing here is a mix of trad and sport routes, with 12 routes in total. The YDS grades run from 5.8 up to 5.12, and the median is 5.11d. Among the named routes are Paul's Boutique at 5.8, Dog Eat Dog at 5.11 and Atomic Dog at 5.12b. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake Lure show October highs around 72°F with lows near 47°F, and April is similar at about 72°F by day and 44°F at night. That station sits roughly 576 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures on the rock run a little cooler.