Tennessee · Rock climbing · Chattanooga

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.

  1. Jan

    48° / 28°

    8 wet

  2. Feb

    51° / 31°

    8 wet

  3. Mar

    60° / 38°

    9 wet

  4. Apr

    71° / 47°

    9 wet

  5. May

    78° / 55°

    8 wet

  6. Jun

    85° / 62°

    8 wet

  7. Jul

    88° / 65°

    9 wet

  8. Aug

    87° / 64°

    8 wet

  9. Sep

    81° / 57°

    6 wet

  10. Oct

    70° / 47°

    6 wet

  11. Nov

    59° / 38°

    7 wet

  12. 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.