North Carolina · Rock climbing · Linville

Upper Tier

Upper Tier is a North Carolina climbing crag with 9 routes.

Photo: pmuellr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

9 routes

5.7 – 5.12-

Trad

Is Upper Tier open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name Upper Tier, 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, 6:10 pm EDT · Source: USFS · National Forests in North Carolina. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Upper Tier

Best months: April–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
39° / 21°
Feb
42° / 24°
Mar
50° / 30°
Apr
60° / 40°
May
66° / 48°
Jun
73° / 55°
Jul
77° / 60°
Aug
75° / 58°
Sep
70° / 53°
Oct
60° / 42°
Nov
51° / 32°
Dec
42° / 26°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Blowing Rock 1nw, NC, 6.5 mi away at 3,850 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Upper Tier is a climbing area on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, within the Grandfather Ranger District of the National Forests in North Carolina. The National Park Service manages the land, and the area sits along the parkway's corridor, close to the town of Blowing Rock. The climbing here is all trad, with nine routes spread across a range from 5.7 to 5.12-. Edge of a Dream is the easiest at 5.7, and Castaway is the hardest at 5.12-. The median grade is 5.8, so the area suits climbers looking for a mix of moderate and slightly harder traditional routes. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Blowing Rock run to highs around 77°F in July, with lows near 60°F. That station sits about 450 feet lower than the area, so temperatures on the cliff may run a little cooler. Sunken Treasure and the BRP Trace are both about 0.2 miles away, and the Tanawha Trail is about 0.4 miles off. For an overnight stay, Julian Price Memorial Park Campground is about 4.6 miles away.