Tennessee · Rock climbing · La Follette

Norris Lake

Norris Lake in Tennessee has 2 climbing routes.

2 routes
5.11a
Trad · Bouldering

Best time to visit Norris Lake

Best months: March–May 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

    44° / 25°

    12 wet · 1 snow

  2. Feb

    50° / 28°

    12 wet · 1 snow

  3. Mar

    60° / 33°

    12 wet

  4. Apr

    70° / 41°

    11 wet

  5. May

    77° / 51°

    12 wet

  6. Jun

    83° / 59°

    13 wet

  7. Jul

    85° / 63°

    13 wet

  8. Aug

    84° / 62°

    10 wet

  9. Sep

    80° / 56°

    8 wet

  10. Oct

    69° / 44°

    9 wet

  11. Nov

    57° / 34°

    9 wet

  12. Dec

    47° / 29°

    12 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Norris, TN, 6.2 mi away at 1,110 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Norris Lake is a climbing area in Tennessee, about a mile from the town of Walnut Grove. It sits close to several other outdoor spots, so it works well as a base for a day of climbing and hiking in the area. The climbing here is a mix of bouldering and traditional routes. One of the named routes is Wet Dreams (DWS), a trad climb rated 5.11a. It was first ascended by Reece Henson. The bouldering at the area is rated V1. For a change of pace, the Clinch River Loop is about half a mile away, and the Mill Creek Loop and Loyston Point Loop are both within about a mile and a half. The Phil Rock climbing area is roughly 2.8 miles off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

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

The Balcony

~1h 11m drive

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

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

Solstice Cave

~1h 12m drive

Solstice Cave in Tennessee has 12 climbing routes across 9 grades, offering sport and trad options.

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

Image Wall

~1h 12m drive

Image Wall in Tennessee has 11 climbing routes with mixed and sport styles.

Tieranny RoofsPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tieranny Roofs

~1h 12m drive

Tieranny Roofs in Tennessee has 39 climbing routes with bouldering pads and sport styles.

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

Squeeze Ledge

~1h 12m drive

Squeeze Ledge in Tennessee has 10 climbing routes across 7 grades.

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

The Inner Circle

~1h 12m drive

Inner Circle, The in Tennessee has 10 sport climbing routes across 8 difficulty grades.

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

North Clear Creek

~1h 12m drive

North Clear Creek in Tennessee has 61 climbing routes in mixed, sport, and trad styles.

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

Blue Sky Buttress

~1h 12m drive

Blue Sky Buttress in Tennessee has 9 climbing routes across 8 grades.

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

Stephen King Library

~1h 12m drive

Stephen King Library in Tennessee has 20 climbing routes across 13 grades.

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

The Outer Circle Ampitheatre

~1h 12m drive

5 sport routes at Outer Circle Ampitheatre, The in Tennessee.