Main Cave
Main Cave in Tennessee has 10 sport climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.
- 10 routes
- 5.11a – 5.13c
- Sport
Best time to visit Main Cave
Best months: March–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
48° / 28°
8 wet
Feb
51° / 31°
8 wet
Mar
60° / 38°
9 wet
Apr
71° / 47°
9 wet
May
78° / 55°
8 wet
Jun
85° / 62°
8 wet
Jul
88° / 65°
9 wet
Aug
87° / 64°
8 wet
Sep
81° / 57°
6 wet
Oct
70° / 47°
6 wet
Nov
59° / 38°
7 wet
Dec
50° / 32°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Soddy Daisy-Mowbray Mtn, TN, 13.3 mi away at 1,700 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Main Cave is a climbing area in Tennessee, about a mile from the community of Suck Creek. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, including the Sucka Boulders and Blind Mice Boulder, which all sit within about a tenth of a mile. The area is close to several other trails and paddling routes, so it pairs well with a day that mixes climbing and time on the ground or water. The climbing here is sport, with 10 routes spread across a range from 5.11a to 5.13c. Sucka for Pain and Sucka Punch are both 5.12d, and Ball Sucka tops out at 5.13c. The median grade is 5.12d, which sets a clear benchmark for what to expect across the area. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 70°F in April and October, while July and August average highs in the upper 80s. The station sits a few hundred feet lower than the cave, so temperatures at the climbing area run slightly cooler.
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