North Carolina · Rock climbing · Highlands

Southeast Face

Southeast Face in North Carolina has 22 trad climbing routes spanning 14 difficulty grades.

22 routes
5.9+ – 5.12c
Trad

Is Southeast Face open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name 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 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, 4 mi away at 3,850 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.

Southeast Face is a rock climbing area in North Carolina's National Forests in North Carolina, within the Nantahala Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land, and the area sits among several named climbing pockets, including Catwalk, Left of main southeast face and Southwest Corner, all within about half a mile. The climbing here is traditional, with 22 routes on record. Grades run from 5.9+ to 5.12c, and the median is 5.11d. Among the named routes are Crown of Thorns at 5.9+, Connections at 5.11c, and Warriors Way at 5.12c. Perverse Incentive and Mainline both sit at 5.12. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Highlands, about 4 miles away, show summer as the warmest stretch, with July highs near 78°F and lows around 58°F. That station sits roughly 900 feet lower than the face, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. Fall is more settled, with October highs around 63°F and lows near 41°F. Nearby, the Norton Mill and Yellow Mountain hikes lie within 4 miles, and Van Hook Glade Campground is about 6 miles away.

Routes (22)

Whiteside GirdleFA: Sam England and Ryan Little - July 13, 20145.10New DiversionsFA: Bob Rotert, Thomas Kelley, 19825.10dNew PerversionsFA: Bob Rotert and Butch Palmer 19765.11Catholic School Girls DirectFA: Original Line: Ted Anderson, Jeep Gaskin, Bob Rotert Direct Finish: 1990 Shannon Stegg & Mark Lassiter5.11-Bloody Bolts and Brown TrousersFA: Bruce Burgess, Nathan Brown5.11+First Mate5.11+Original Route (aka Gom Jabber)FA: FA: Young, Marshall, Lawrence, Whisnant (1968-1971 - sieged) FFA: Bob Rotert, 19775.11aConnectionsFA: Doc Bayne, Nick Williams, Jeep Gaskins5.11cTraditionsFA: Lassiter5.11cWhippin' BoyFA: Doc Bayne, Mark Lassiter, Nick Williams - 19935.11dDirty Dikes DDCFA: Jim Corbett & David Young5.12MainlineFA: Doc Bayne, Scott Brunet, Chad Garner, & Nick Williams5.12The Route DoctorsFA: Doc Bayne & Whitney Heuermann5.12Children of the SunFA: Arno and Mark Ilgner5.12+Arm and HammerFA: Shannon Stegg and Jerry Roberts, 19895.12aParental GuidanceFA: Doc Bayne and Mark Lassiter, 19925.12aPerverse IncentiveFA: A.M., N.B.5.12aThe Volunteer WallFA: Arno Ilgner, Mark Cartwright, Eddie Whittemore - 1985 FFA: Arno Ilgner, Mark Ilgner - 19915.12aThe Great Ah HaFA: FA: Arno Ilgner, Steve Jones (1997) FFA: Arno Ilgner, Stever Jones (August, 1999)5.12bThe MatrixFA: FA Arno Ilgner, FFA Arno Ilgner, Brad Carter5.12cWarriors WayFA: Arno Ilgner5.12cCrown of ThornsFA: Shannon Stegg and Karim??5.9+

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