Tennessee · Rock climbing · Lancing

Stephen King Library

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

Stephen King LibraryPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
20 routes
5.7 – 5.13b
Sport · Trad

Is Stephen King Library open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Obed Wild and Scenic River.

As of · Source: NPS · Obed Wild and Scenic River. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Stephen King Library

Best months: March–April 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

    46° / 26°

    11 wet

  2. Feb

    50° / 28°

    10 wet

  3. Mar

    59° / 34°

    11 wet

  4. Apr

    69° / 42°

    11 wet

  5. May

    76° / 51°

    13 wet

  6. Jun

    83° / 59°

    13 wet

  7. Jul

    86° / 63°

    13 wet

  8. Aug

    85° / 62°

    11 wet

  9. Sep

    80° / 54°

    10 wet

  10. Oct

    70° / 43°

    10 wet

  11. Nov

    59° / 34°

    9 wet

  12. Dec

    50° / 29°

    11 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lancing 6 Nw, TN, 4 mi away at 1,520 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Stephen King Library is a climbing area in Tennessee, set within the Obed Wild and Scenic River, a National Park Service unit. It falls under the Obed Wild & Scenic River Fee, and the land is managed by a non-governmental organization. The area is a cluster of climbing spots, with Blue Sky Buttress, The Outer Circle Ampitheatre and North Clear Creek all about 0.1 mile away. That makes it easy to string together several routes in one outing. The climbing here is mostly sport, with a few trad options, and the grades run from 5.7 up to 5.13b. Among the named routes are Pet Sematary at 5.11a, Gunslinger at 5.11d and Misery Delivered at 5.13b. For a change from the rock, the Point Trail and Lilly Bridge Trail are both within a mile. Rock Creek Campground (TN) sits about 3 miles away, and paddlers can head to Rock Creek, roughly 6.7 miles off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

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

The Outer Circle Ampitheatre

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

North Clear Creek

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

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

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Y- 12Photo: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Versatile Tennessee crag with routes for multiple skill levels.

Middle ObedPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Middle Obed

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

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

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

Solstice Cave

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

The Balcony

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