Buzzard Point
General information
CLOSURE: Laurel Snow SNA is closed until further notice due to wildfires.
ATTENTION CLIMBERS: Be a voice for climbing in Tennesee, make sure you fill out this climbing pass so that the state of TN knows how many climbers utilize to their state parks. Why this is important: This helps us advocate for climbers with the state parks. Without this data, there isn’t a great way for us to show the state just how many climbers use the land.
Land Manager: Cumberland Trail State Park, Laurel-Snow State Natural Area
Native Lands: ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), Shawandasse Tula (Shawanwaki/Shawnee), S’atsoyaha (Yuchi) (from Native-land.ca)
Area Rep: Zack Manley, zackmanleyart@gmail.com
Beta
Buzzard Point is located in Laurel/Snow Pocket Wilderness, on a huge point dividing the gorge. This Buttress has good sun most of the day. A lot of the routes were started most likely in 1977 with the likes of Rob Robinson and Bruce Rodgers. Around the early 80’s some other southern climbers came on the scene like James Dobbs, Ron Davis, Charles Kable, Shannon Stegg, and Chris Chesnutt, along with Jeff Gruenberg and his line “Pieta” which may have very well been the first 5.14 in the southern realm. Later Rob Robinson and Glenn Ritter put more lines into play.
Some of these routes are on the Point.
Directions
What to Expect
Rock quality is good. It has been a while since some of the anchors have been replaced due to the access problems in in the past. Nice fall/winter sport crag with some spicy trad. A lot of these routes are done with old school style in mind.
Access notes
- Thanks to climbing advocates and our partnership with the State climbing is still open to the public at Laurel-Snow. Buzzard Point is open, and the state has permitted climbing at the Dayton Roof overhang and some climbs immediately adjacent. It is the states intention, and our responsibility to restrict climbing to those areas. There is to be no new bolting of routes at this time.
- Inquiries regarding new routes can be sent to Meg@seclimbers.org
Camping
No camping
Guidebook