COVID-19 Climbing Guidelines: The Red River Gorge in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Muir Valley, and all RRGCC-owned property - which includes Miller Fork Recreational Preserve, Bald Rock Recreational Preserve, and Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve - request that you follow the guidelines outlined on each website if you choose to climb during this time. See links above for more details about each climbing area.

Staircase Wall

Grade Trad Mixed Sport Total
5.11 3 - - 7
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Directions to Staircase Wall

USFS
This wall is in property owned by USFS. Be respectful.
Drive 3.1 miles down KY 715 from its intersection with KY 77 and park in a parking lot on the left just before a bridge. The parking area has a sign indicating the trailhead for Bison Way. Follow the Bison Way trail for .75 miles until it meets up with the Sheltowee Trace trail. Turn left and follow the trail for about .25 miles until you see an obvious trail to your right just past a stream crossing. Follow the trail uphill for 250 yards until it ends at an intersection near a short cliff. Bear to the right here and head up a steep section to the base of a 3rd class scramble. Scramble up to a ledge about 20 feet up to a large ledge. This ledge marks the beginning of the ancient Indian staircase. Walk up a short slab using the first 10 Indian stairs (indentations in the rock) to another ledge 7 feet up. From here, follow a faint trail to the left for about 100 feet until you reach the first obvious crack of Here Comes Batman.

Wall Sun: Unknown



Click the column heads to sort. Hold shift to sort on multiple columns.
Route Spray Name Type Grade Quality User Stars Length Picture

1

 Beginners Staircase Toprope 5.3
 
 3.25  (4) 80ft

1

 Delete Trad 5.7
 
 85ft  

2

 Staircase to Heaven Trad 5.3
 
 2.00  (1) 80ft  

3

 Middle Staircase Toprope 5.5
 
 3.00  (4) 80ft

4

 Batman's Warm Up Toprope 5.10+
 
 1.67  (3) 80ft  

5

 Here Comes Batman Trad 5.11c
 
 3.00  (3) 100ft

6

 Robin's Revenge Toprope 5.9
 
 2.67  (3) 80ft  

Comments

3 comments {add your own comments}
1
Anonymous said on January 5th, 2005
The Brain- 37.8465°N, 83.6165°W
2
Anonymous said on October 7th, 2008
3
Anonymous said on June 5th, 2009
Last time I was there, the forest service had marked the Indian Staircase trail with one of those "Don't go this way" sign posts. It was probably put there because people were trying to burn down the forest.