Starr Mountain
Starr Mountain in Tennessee has 9 traditional climbing routes across 7 grades.
- 9 routes
- 5.6 – 5.10c/d
- Trad
Is Starr Mountain open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Cherokee National Forest. It doesn't name Starr Mountain, so check the source for the area it covers.
Lake Edge Burn Scheduled
Agency closure covering Cherokee National Forest · USFS · Cherokee National Forest
Emergency road closures due to storm damage
Agency alert covering Cherokee National Forest · USFS · Cherokee National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Cherokee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Starr Mountain
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
49° / 28°
12 wet · 1 snow
Feb
53° / 31°
12 wet · 1 snow
Mar
62° / 37°
12 wet
Apr
71° / 45°
11 wet
May
79° / 55°
12 wet
Jun
85° / 63°
12 wet
Jul
88° / 68°
12 wet
Aug
88° / 66°
10 wet
Sep
83° / 60°
8 wet
Oct
73° / 47°
9 wet
Nov
61° / 36°
10 wet
Dec
52° / 31°
12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Athens, TN, 14.5 mi away at 940 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Starr Mountain is a climbing area in Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest, within the Ocoee Ranger District and the South Cherokee National Forest & Wildlife Management Area. The land is managed jointly. The area has 10 traditional routes, with grades ranging from 5.6 to 5.11a. Among them are "Pleasing to the Touch" at 5.6, "Flake Route" at 5.8 and "Excalibur" at 5.10c/d. The hardest route is "The Sound of One Finger Bleeding" at 5.8+. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Athens, Tennessee, run to highs around 71°F in April and 73°F in October, while July and August average highs near 88°F. That station sits about 558 feet lower than the mountain, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. Several trails start close by, including Fisherman's Trail at 0.4 miles and Lowry Cove Trail at 1.1 miles. Quinn Springs Pavilion, a campground, is 1.3 miles away, and the Hiwassee River is about 3 miles off.
Routes (9)
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