Tennessee · Rock climbing · Lancing

The Balcony

Balcony, The in Tennessee has 15 routes across 12 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

The BalconyPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
15 routes
5.8 – 5.12b/c
Sport · Trad

Is Balcony, The open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Obed Wild and Scenic River.

As of · Source: NPS · Obed Wild and Scenic River. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit The Balcony

Best months: March–April and August–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.

  1. Jan

    46° / 26°

    11 wet

  2. Feb

    50° / 28°

    10 wet

  3. Mar

    59° / 34°

    11 wet

  4. Apr

    69° / 42°

    11 wet

  5. May

    76° / 51°

    13 wet

  6. Jun

    83° / 59°

    13 wet

  7. Jul

    86° / 63°

    13 wet

  8. Aug

    85° / 62°

    11 wet

  9. Sep

    80° / 54°

    10 wet

  10. Oct

    70° / 43°

    10 wet

  11. Nov

    59° / 34°

    9 wet

  12. Dec

    50° / 29°

    11 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lancing 6 Nw, TN, 4.2 mi away at 1,520 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Balcony is a climbing area in Tennessee's Obed Wild and Scenic River, managed by a non-governmental organization. It sits within the Obed Wild & Scenic River Fee, about 0.1 mile from Solstice Cave and 0.2 mile from Image Wall, so it pairs easily with those other climbing spots. The area has 15 routes, 14 of them sport and one trad. The YDS grades run from 5.8 up to 5.12b/c, with the median at 5.11a. Among the named routes are Sky Hook (5.8, trad), Cheap Seats (5.10a, sport), and Mad Cow (5.12b/c, sport). Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 70°F with lows near 43°F, and April is similar at about 69°F and 42°F. The station sits about 290 feet lower than the area, so temperatures here run a little cooler.

Routes (15)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Solstice CavePhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Solstice Cave

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Image WallPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Image Wall

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The Inner CirclePhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Squeeze LedgePhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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North Clear CreekPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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The Outer Circle AmpitheatrePhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Stephen King LibraryPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Blue Sky ButtressPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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~1 min drive

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Middle ObedPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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