Climbing Forecast › Highlands › Laurel Knob

HIGHLANDS · GRANITE · bird ban

Laurel Knob climbing conditions

Poor — wet, too windy or closed

Right now

Temp72°F
Wind5 mph
Gusts7 mph
Humidity87.1%
Rain 48h0.01 in
Last rainNone recent

Assessment

1.3mm rain forecast
Warm (72°F) and humid (87.1%) — granite friction will be poor, especially on slabs
Humidity 87.1% — potential fog/cloud, rock may be damp from condensation

7-day forecast

Scroll through each day — hourly detail is shown inline.

Today Friday 21 August
Poor
Temp73°F
Rain0.05 in
Wind8 mph
Gusts7 mph
Humidity87%
1.3mm rain forecast
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
18:00 72° dry 5 — 87.1%
19:00 75° 0.01 in 6 — 74.4%
20:00 77° 0.02 in 8 — 67.1%
21:00 76° 0.01 in 8 — 64.6%
Sat Saturday 22 August
Caution
Temp66°F
Raindry
Wind6 mph
Gusts—
Humidity89%
Should be dryHumidity 89% — potential fog
  • Good conditions for granite
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
06:00 61° dry 5 — 99.6%
07:00 61° dry 6 — 99.2%
08:00 61° dry 6 — 99.7%
09:00 60° dry 6 — 99.6%
10:00 61° dry 7 — 99.9%
11:00 62° dry 6 — 100%
12:00 63° dry 6 — 99.3%
13:00 65° dry 5 — 95.3%
14:00 68° dry 4 — 88.1%
15:00 71° dry 5 — 76.6%
16:00 74° dry 5 — 66.8%
17:00 76° dry 6 — 57.6%
18:00 77° dry 7 — 50.8%
19:00 78° dry 8 — 47.5%
20:00 77° dry 8 — 46.3%
21:00 77° dry 9 — 46.9%
Sun Sunday 23 August
Good
Temp64°F
Raindry
Wind6 mph
Gusts—
Humidity80%
Should be dry
  • Good conditions for granite
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
06:00 62° dry 7 — 86.3%
07:00 62° dry 8 — 89.1%
08:00 61° dry 8 — 91.7%
09:00 60° dry 7 — 93.4%
10:00 60° dry 6 — 94.6%
11:00 59° dry 5 — 96.6%
12:00 62° dry 5 — 93.9%
13:00 65° dry 5 — 85.4%
14:00 67° dry 5 — 75.6%
15:00 69° dry 6 — 63.4%
16:00 72° dry 7 — 53.1%
17:00 73° dry 7 — 49.6%
18:00 75° dry 6 — 46.2%
19:00 76° dry 6 — 41.9%
20:00 76° dry 7 — 38.7%
21:00 75° dry 8 — 39.5%
Mon Monday 24 August
Good
Temp61°F
Raindry
Wind2 mph
Gusts—
Humidity82%
Should be dry
  • Good conditions for granite
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
06:00 58° dry 6 — 80.6%
12:00 60° dry 2 — 81.7%
18:00 76° dry 7 — 29.1%
Tue Tuesday 25 August
Good
Temp63°F
Raindry
Wind3 mph
Gusts—
Humidity63%
Should be dry
  • Good conditions for granite
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
06:00 59° dry 0 — 74.1%
12:00 63° dry 3 — 62.9%
18:00 79° dry 7 — 33.3%
Wed Wednesday 26 August
Poor
Temp66°F
Rain0.08 in
Wind4 mph
Gusts—
Humidity75%
2.1mm rain forecast
  • Good conditions for granite
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
06:00 67° dry 3 — 71.4%
12:00 67° 0.01 in 4 — 74.9%
18:00 73° 0.07 in 6 — 73%
Thu Thursday 27 August
Poor
Temp63°F
Rain0.07 in
Wind2 mph
Gusts—
Humidity100%
1.9mm rain forecastHumidity 100% — likely fog/cloud
  • Good conditions for granite
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
06:00 63° dry 1 — 98%
12:00 62° 0.04 in 3 — 99.6%
18:00 71° 0.03 in 6 — 83.3%
Fri Friday 28 August
Poor
Temp63°F
Rain0.03 in
Wind2 mph
Gusts—
Humidity100%
0.8mm rain forecastHumidity 100% — likely fog/cloud
  • Good conditions for granite
Time °F Rain Wind (mph) Gust Hum
06:00 61° dry 4 — 100%
12:00 62° 0.00 in 2 — 99.6%
18:00 76° 0.02 in 4 — 65.9%
Access
2-hour approach from the Panthertown trailhead via Deep Gap Trail; walk-off descent requires CCC membership.
Bird ban (01-15 to 08-14)
Dillard Canyon routes closed to climbing January 15 through August 14 each year for peregrine falcon nesting. Other Laurel Knob routes remain open. Enforced by Carolina Climbers Coalition and USFS.

About Laurel Knob

Laurel Knob is the tallest crag east of the Mississippi — a remote 1,200-foot granite dome above Lonesome Valley near Big Green Mountain, purchased by the Carolina Climbers Coalition in 2006. Serious multi-pitch trad up to 5.13, water-grooved face climbing — not a beginner's venue. Dillard Canyon routes close Jan 15–Aug 14 for peregrine nesting. Granite drains fast; the shaded upper wall stays cool in summer.

Region
Highlands
Rock type
Granite
Aspect
mixed-facing
Altitude
3465 ft
Exposure
high
Seepage
low

Other crags in this region

Whiteside Mountain