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We are not responsible for any of the information found at these external links.
Participate at your own risk.

External climbing links featuring Panthertown Valley:

• Carolina Climber’s Coalition – Laurel Knob
• The Crag – Laurel Knob
• The Crag – Panthertown Valley
• DW Hike – Laurel Knob and Panthertown Valley
• Mountain Project – Big Green Rock Climbing
• Mountain Project – Laurel Knob Rock Climbing
• Mountain Project – Panthertown Valley (Goldspring Ridge) Rock Climbing

Laurel Knob

CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE DAMAGE. CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY FOR UPDATES.

Land Manger: Carolina Climbers Coalition

Guides and Info : 

Laurel Knob Climbing Management Plan

Area rep: Matt Chrestman mchrestman@carolinaclimbers.org

The tallest cliff in the Eastern U.S., Laurel Knob was the first acquisition in the CCC’s history. Big and wild, Laurel is home to fantastic slab and water groove climbing. Laurel’s remote location and height make for a truly unique experience and it’s likely you will be the only party on the cliff, or at least it can feel that way. The approach is long, but it’s well worth the walk.

If you like classic traditional NC climbing and haven’t yet been to Laurel, you need to get out there at least once.

What to expect 

Slab and water groove climbing, often with runouts on easier terrain (below 5.7/5.8). You should be very comfortable on multipitch routes and route finding as well as climbing above your gear. There are no sport climbs at Laurel, all routes require at least a few pieces of gear although there may be bolts. Be prepared for a long day, the hike in is around 1 – 1/2 hours and you have to rappel and hike back out.

Camping

Free, dispersed camping is available on the approach throughout Panthertoewn Valley on Forest Service land. Please do not camp at Laurel Knob itself. Note that due to bear activity in the area, the Forest Service recommends storing your food in bear-resistant containers to avoid incidents.

Want an easier approach?

Current annual CCC members recieve 10-15% off Hyland Cabins, which are a ~1 mile walk to the base of Laurel Knob. Info Here. 

Access notes

Do not hike off the top of the cliff, it is private property. Do not hike in from Dillard Canyon, it is private property.  Please help us keep our good relations with the local landowners by approaching from Panthertown Valley only.

Peregrine Closure

Routes in the Dillard Canyon are closed due to a nesting pair of peregrine falcons from Feb 1 to August 15 every year until otherwise posted. There is an active and successful peregrine eyrie. Let’s give this special species some privacy to do their thing and reer their young. This eyrie was formerly on Fathom but it has now moved. Fathom and routes surrounding are now open year-round.

Latest News About Peregrine Falcons and Seasonal Closures:

Seasonal restrictions near peregrine falcon nesting areas
to resume on Pisgah, Nantahala National Forests
Activities such as climbing and drone use prohibited until mid-August 2025

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 14, 2025) -- The annual closure of rock faces used by nesting peregrine falcons begins again on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests starting Jan. 15, 2025, the U.S. Forest Service and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) announced today.

Activities such as climbing cliffs and operating drones in the closed areas are restricted to protect the state-listed endangered birds, which mate for life and return to the same location each year to roost and tend to their nestlings. The annual closure will be fully lifted on Aug. 15, 2025. As in previous years, the order may be partially lifted at some sites before this date, depending on the development of the young falcons.

See full list here.

The Forest Service and NCWRC work with the Carolina Climbers Coalition (CCC) to balance the protection of Peregrine Falcons with access to climbing areas. Peregrines, also called “duck hawks,” were listed as endangered in 1970 due to pollutants like DDT. Although many populations have recovered, human activity near nests can still threaten them. Even a person in sight of the nest can cause the falcons to abandon their young.

The collaboration between wildlife experts and climbers is a good example of combining recreation with conservation. Mike Reardon from CCC notes that this partnership has improved communication about necessary closures and has led to better decisions on where to close areas.

This season, staff observed peregrine falcons at 18 territories and found none at one territory. Eight successful pairs raised at least 14 offspring. In 2024, the success rate for nests was 44%. On average, each pair produced 0.78 young per nest and 1.75 young per successful nest. Although more territories are occupied, the success rate and the average number of young per pair are lower than they were from 1999-2002, when the averages were 68 percent and 1.2-1.9 chicks per pair. Since 2016, the best sites after Whiteside Mountain and Pickens Nose are Buzzard’s Roost, Cedar Rock, and two nests on private land in Transylvania County. Cameras monitoring two nests provided new insights into their activity like egg laying and nestling phases. NCWRC and the USFS rely on the generous donation of time and expertise from climbers with the Carolina Climbers Coalition to install and maintain nest cameras at select sites.
 
To learn more about the NC Wildlife Resource Commission, visit https://www.ncwildlife.org. 
 
For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc or follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nfsnc).

Laurel Knob NOTICE January 15, 2024 - August 14, 2024: 

Routes between Oasis and Fathom AND all routes in the Dillard Canyon are closed to climbing during this period. The closure at Fathom will likely be lifted early. We will know more after monitoring in March. 

The Carolina Climbers Coalition work closely with the U.S. Forest Service and N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission biologists each year to ensure that peregrine falcon closures are accurate per eyrie sites, and help balance conservation of the species with reasonable access to climbing destinations. Thank you, climbers, for respecting these USFS closure zones and for helping protect this amazing species.

A pair of adult falcons bowing to one another. A courtship ritual signaling they are a mated pair and will likely nest in this eyrie. Photo credit: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

NCWRC and the USFS rely on the generous donation of time and expertise from climbers with the Carolina Climbers Coalition to install and maintain nest cameras at select sites

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