If you’re planning a climbing trip to the Chattanooga area, you need Chatt Steel South. It’s the definitive guidebook for sport climbing in this region—304 pages covering hundreds of routes across the best crags within striking distance of the city.
Whether you’re visiting Foster Falls, Denny Cove, Castle Rock, or any of the surrounding areas, this is the book that tells you where to go and what to climb.
What’s Inside
Chatt Steel South: A Comprehensive Guide to Chattanooga Sport Climbing
- Authors: Micah Gentry & Cody Averbeck
- Publisher: Rockery Press
- Edition: 2nd Edition (2020)
- Pages: 304 full-color pages
- Price: $34.95
The guidebook includes detailed topos, route descriptions, approach beta, and star ratings for hundreds of bolted sport routes. It’s sport-climbing specific—no trad or bouldering, just bolted lines.
Beyond the route information, the book includes historical context, stories of notable first ascents, and even a continuing comic strip following the adventures of an ambitious route developer named Torque.
Areas Covered
Chatt Steel South covers the southern crags in the greater Chattanooga region:
Foster Falls — The classic South Cumberland destination with routes from beginner-friendly to expert. Just 2 minutes from fosters cabins.
Denny Cove — Nearly 150 routes of world-class sport climbing, from 5.8 to 5.14. The Buffet Wall alone is worth the trip.
Castle Rock — Orange sandstone overlooking Jasper with routes concentrated in the 5.11-5.12 range. South-facing for winter climbing.
T-Wall — More quality sandstone in the area.
Prentice Cooper — Additional climbing options worth exploring.
Jah Wall — Another crag documented in detail.
The book is the southern volume of a two-part series. There are so many routes in the Chattanooga area that Rockery Press had to split the guide into two books.
Why This Guidebook
Chatt Steel South isn’t just a list of routes—it’s the product of local climbers who know these crags intimately. Authors Micah Gentry and Cody Averbeck have put in years of work documenting the area, and Rockery Press has contributed to anchor replacement and route maintenance through organizations like ARI.
The route information is accurate, the topos are clear, and the local knowledge shows. Mountain Project is useful for quick reference, but for a proper trip, you want the full guidebook.
Where to Buy
Online: Purchase directly from Rockery Press ($34.95)
Local: Pick up a copy at Redpoint Inn in Jasper. They stock the guidebook along with climbing gear, and you can grab lunch while you’re there.
Digital Alternative
If you prefer digital, Rockery Press offers guidebook content through the Rakkup app. Download routes to your phone for offline access at the crag. A portion of Rakkup sales goes to the Southeastern Climbers Coalition to support access.
Where to Stay
If you’re planning a trip to climb the areas in Chatt Steel South, fosters cabins put you right in the middle of the action. Located 2 minutes from Foster Falls, you’re central to Denny Cove, Castle Rock, and the other crags covered in the book.
Each cabin has WiFi for planning your sessions, a full kitchen for meal prep, and the quiet setting you need between climbing days. Grab the guidebook, book a cabin, and spend a long weekend ticking routes.
Plan Your Trip
We’ve written detailed guides for several of the areas covered in Chatt Steel South:
- Denny Cove Climbing Guide — Approach beta, classic routes, and logistics
- Castle Rock Climbing Guide — Access rules, walls, and seasonal tips
- Redpoint Inn — Where to buy gear and guidebooks locally
Ready to climb? Book a cabin and make fosters cabins your base camp for exploring everything in Chatt Steel South.