Tennessee · Rock climbing · Sequatchie

Rocket Slab

Rocket Slab in Tennessee has 5 sport climbing routes spanning 5 difficulty grades.

Rocket SlabPhoto: SeeMidTN.com (aka Brent), CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
5 routes
5.5 – 5.12
Sport

Best time to visit Rocket Slab

Best months: April–June 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° / 26°

    13 wet · 1 snow

  2. Feb

    49° / 30°

    12 wet · 1 snow

  3. Mar

    57° / 37°

    13 wet · 1 snow

  4. Apr

    67° / 45°

    12 wet

  5. May

    74° / 54°

    12 wet

  6. Jun

    80° / 61°

    12 wet

  7. Jul

    83° / 65°

    13 wet

  8. Aug

    83° / 64°

    11 wet

  9. Sep

    78° / 58°

    9 wet

  10. Oct

    68° / 47°

    9 wet

  11. Nov

    57° / 37°

    10 wet

  12. Dec

    48° / 30°

    13 wet · 1 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Monteagle, TN, 9.5 mi away at 1,850 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Rocket Slab is a sport climbing area in Tennessee's South Cumberland, a cluster of climbing spots that sit close together. The Sanford Wall and Gutbuster Area are each about 0.1 mile away, and Jimmywood is just as near, so the slab fits easily into a day of climbing in this corner of the Cumberland. The routes here are all sport, and they range from 5.5 to 5.12. Afterburner is the easiest at 5.5, and Witchy Woman and Rode Hard, Put Up Wet sit around 5.10c and 5.10d. Launch Pad is the hardest at 5.12. For timing, fall is the most comfortable season. Typical averages from the nearby Monteagle weather station show October highs around 68°F with lows near 47°F, and September and October bring the fewest wet days of the year. The Fiery Gizzard Trail is about 0.6 mile away for a walk, and Big Fiery Gizzard Creek offers paddling about 2.8 miles off. Raven Point Trail and Dog Hole Trail are both within about 4.5 miles.