North Carolina · Rock climbing · Highlands

Southwest Corner

14 traditional climbing routes in North Carolina spanning 11 difficulty grades.

14 routes

5.8 – 5.12b

Trad

Is Southwest Corner open right now?

Closure in the area

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

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.

Southwest Corner is a climbing area in the Nantahala Ranger District of the National Forests in North Carolina. It sits among a cluster of named climbing areas, with Main North Face about 0.1 mile away and Left of main southeast face about 0.2 mile away. Southeast Face lies about half a mile off. The climbing here is all trad, with 14 routes spread across the area. Grades range from 5.8 up to 5.12, with Hanging Gardens at 5.10 and Great Gig in the Sky at 5.12 among the most notable. Most of the routes are straightforward trad, and several have known first ascents. For timing, late summer and early fall are the warmest stretch. Typical averages from the nearby Highlands weather station, about 3.5 miles away, show September highs around 71°F and lows near 51°F, with July the wettest month at about 17 wet days. Winter is cold, with January highs around 42°F. Within a few miles are Norton Mill, a hike about 2.8 miles away, and Yellow Mountain, about 3.8 miles away. Van Hook Glade Campground and Blue Valley Dispersed Camping offer places to stay and fish a little farther out.