Sunset Rock (Lookout Mountain) poster-style illustration
Why We WaitWet sandstone breaks. The science, the casualties and one very salty crimp.

Sunset Rock (Lookout Mountain), TN

Sunset Rock now
Drying out, but holds are likely still soft; no more rain expected
Rest day. Hit the gym or a rainy-day crag, and let the holds live.
Likely climbable by Fri, Nov 13 around 1 PM.
⚠ This could be a sandbag: shaded, north-facing or seeping rock can stay wet longer than the gauges suggest. Touch the rock and check the ground before you tie in.
Updated · updates hourly
Sun and shade
Chase the sun or hide in the shade?
Live sun and shade map ↗ · ShadeMap
Live radar

Live radar

Updates hourly
Loading radar…

The last hour of rain and snow on radar; the pin marks Sunset Rock. Green is light, yellow to red is heavy. Radar: NOAA/National Weather Service. Mountains can block radar in parts of the West, so light rain may not show.

NWS radar ↗ · Windy radar ↗

Rain, last and next 7 days
Rain at Sunset Rockmeasured forecast
Mon, Nov 2: 0.14 in measured0.14MTue, Nov 3: 0.03 in measured0.03TWed, Nov 4: 2.21 in measured2.21WThu, Nov 5: 1.24 in measured1.24TFri, Nov 6: 0.00 in measuredFSat, Nov 7: 0.00 in measuredSSun, Nov 8: 0.00 in measured•0%Mon, Nov 9: 0.00 in forecast, 0% chanceM0%Tue, Nov 10: 0.00 in forecast, 0% chanceT24%Wed, Nov 11: 0.01 in forecast, 24% chance0.01W27%Thu, Nov 12: 0.04 in forecast, 27% chance0.04T2%Fri, Nov 13: 0.00 in forecast, 2% chanceF0%Sat, Nov 14: 0.00 in forecast, 0% chanceS1%Sun, Nov 15: 0.00 in forecast, 1% chanceS
Last 7 daysNext 7 days
Gauges within 6 mi: COCO-TN-HL-62, AR919, CCFG1, G0392, RACT1, G7709 · forecast: NWS
Rain gauges
Updates hourly

Last rain at these gauges: 78 h ago (3 days) · 0.01 in at GW7709 Chattanooga, ending Thu 9 AM

Rain in the last 3 days: none <0.10 in 0.10–0.25 >0.25. Tap a gauge for its name and link.

Webcam

No webcam within about 20 mi of Sunset Rock. Webcams near Sunset Rock on Windy ↗ · TN road cameras ↗

Thanks and community

Local coalitions and stewards

  • Access Fund ↗For keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment across the country.
  • Southeastern Climbers Coalition ↗For buying, protecting and caring for climbing areas across the Southeast.
  • Weather data ↗Rain gauges via Synoptic Data (MesoWest) from public and private weather networks. Forecasts from the National Weather Service. Model estimates from Open-Meteo when gauges go quiet.

Local climbing community

GroupsChattanooga Climbers ↗Southeast Rock Climbing ↗
OnlineMountain Project Southern States forum ↗Rock Climbing TAG ↗
Local guidance

Local guidance

Park rule National Park Service (Chickamauga and Chattanooga): climbing only in the designated zones above and below Bluff Trail, no bolts or fixed gear, pad any tree used as an anchor, and be off the crag by sunset (rangers ticket). Groups of 10 or more need a permit. Park only in designated spots in the neighborhood. NPS: Lookout Mountain trail map ↗

  • Rock Sandstone
  • Group Hard sandstone: red for 24 h after rain, caution to 48 h (72 h in winter)

Sunset Rock (Lookout Mountain) on Mountain Project ↗Southeastern Climbers Coalition ↗
Rain check details

Light rain nearby, dry at Sunset Rock

The gauges agree: the rain missed Sunset Rock.

Where the rain fell (72-hour totals)

AreaGaugesRain
Northeast, 13–26 miHixson, Chattanooga, North Chickamauga Creek, Ooltewah0.00–0.01 in
Southwest, 25–30 miHenagar, Flat Rock Rain0.00–0.01 in
Sunset Rock areaLookout Mountain 0.3 E, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga Creek, Chattanooga, Raccoon Mountain0.00 in
North, 21–25 miWhitwell, Dunlap 1SSE0.00 in
East, 12–22 miRinggold, Chattanooga, Ooltewah, Mcdonald 1S0.00 in
Southeast, 14–27 miSouth Chickamauga Creek, R. H. Bandy Steam Plant Rain Gauge, Armuchee, Dalton0.00 in
South, 17–22 miLaFayette, Barwick Lafayette Airport0.00 in
West, 15–24 miNickajack Dam, Jasper, Widows Creek Steam Plant0.00 in
Northwest, 17 miWhitwell 1N0.00 in

Sunset Rock has dry gauges on 7 sides: north, northeast, east, southeast, south, west and northwest, the closest at Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga and Raccoon Mountain. Rain would have had to slip between them, and that's unlikely here.

The site shows 🔴 Likely wet. Last rain: 2.25 in at GW0392 Chattanooga, ending 87 h ago. Drying it out takes about 72 h of good drying weather; at the forecast humidity, wind and sun, the rock is likely still wet. Touch the rock and check for damp sand at the base, especially in the shady canyons.

From 33 gauges out to 30 mi. Farther gauges as of 3:29 PM CST. Red means 0.10 in or more, amber a trace. Storm cells can be smaller than the gaps between gauges.
Local Beta Board

Local Beta Board

Climbers posting what they see at Sunset Rock: which walls are dry, seeps, closures, approach and trail conditions.

No beta posted yet. Be the first to spray some beta from Sunset Rock: which walls are dry, wet or seeping?

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Rain chance, wind and temperature

Rain chance, wind and temperature

Temperature: 61°F now · next 24 h 41–66°F

Good friction temps (high 66°F).

Wind now: 0 mph from the N · W4EDP Lookout Mountain (AR919), 1.6 mi, 37 min ago

3p61°3g84p59°3g85p55°56p52°57p49°58p48°59p46°610p45°611p43°612a43°71a42°62a42°6
No rain in today's forecast. Wind by hour (mph, arrow shows where it blows; g = gusts) and temperature. Forecast: National Weather Service.

NWS hourly forecast for Sunset Rock ↗Sun and shade now (ShadeMap) ↗
Rain gauges

Last rain at these gauges: 78 h ago (3 days) · 0.01 in at GW7709 Chattanooga, ending Thu 9 AM

  • Lookout Mountain 0.3 E
    COCO-TN-HL-62 · 0.6 mi · checked 3:29 PM
    0.00 inlast 24 h
    Last rain 79 h ago (3 days): 1.94 in, ending Thu 8 AM
    One reading a day (a 24-h total), so no hourly bars
    Reports about daily · CoCoRaHS volunteer rain gauge (read daily)
  • W4EDP Lookout Mountain
    AR919 · 1.6 mi · checked 3:29 PM
    0.00 inlast 24 h
    Last rain 90 h ago (3 days): 1.10 in, ending Wed 9 PM
    24 h ago12 hnow
    Reports every 15 min · Citizen weather station (CWOP), sends over the internet
  • 0.00 inlast 24 h
    Last rain 81 h ago (3 days): 0.01 in, ending Thu 6 AM
    24 h ago12 hnow
    Reports every 15 min · River and rain gauge (HADS), sends by GOES satellite
  • GW0392 Chattanooga
    G0392 · 4.1 mi · checked 3:29 PM
    0.00 inlast 24 h
    Last rain 87 h ago (3 days): 2.25 in, ending Thu 12 AM
    24 h ago12 hnow
    Reports every 5 min · Citizen weather station (CWOP), sends over the internet
  • Raccoon Mountain Near Whitwell 12SE
    RACT1 · 4.4 mi · checked 3:29 PM
    0.00 inlast 24 h
    Last rain 90 h ago (3 days): 1.84 in, ending Wed 9 PM
    24 h ago12 hnow
    Reports every 15 min · River and rain gauge (HADS), sends by GOES satellite
  • GW7709 Chattanooga
    G7709 · 5.1 mi · checked 3:29 PM
    0.00 inlast 24 h
    Last rain 78 h ago (3 days): 0.01 in, ending Thu 9 AM
    24 h ago12 hnow
    Reports every 5 min · Citizen weather station (CWOP), sends over the internet
  • Chattanooga 2.1 Wnw
    COCO-TN-HL-61 · 6.5 mi · checked 3:29 PM
    0.00 inlast 24 h
    Last rain 81 h ago (3 days): 2.06 in, ending Thu 6 AM
    One reading a day (a 24-h total), so no hourly bars
    Reports about daily · CoCoRaHS volunteer rain gauge (read daily)

Bars show rain each hour over the last 24 h. "Last rain" looks back 7 days. Tap a gauge to see its full record (on MesoWest, or its own network's site). The site checks every gauge hourly.
Is it actually dry?

Check the rock yourself

Rain gauges measure rain, not rock. Sandstone is weak when wet and holds water long after the surface looks dry, especially on shady or seepy faces. If the ground is damp, the rock is too, and the route will still be there tomorrow if nobody breaks it.

Is it actually dry?

Field checks before you tie in

  • Is the sand at the base dry? It dries before the rock does; damp sand means wet rock.
  • Are the trail and the ground at the cliff base dry? If not, don't climb.
  • Look for dark damp patches, moisture behind flakes and inside cracks, and fresh sand on holds.
  • Shaded walls, spots under trees and grooves that channel water stay wet much longer.
  • Sun and wind dry rock fast; cloudy, calm, humid days slow it down, and winter drying is slow (great friction, bad drying).
  • After long, soaking rain the rock can stay wet inches deep. Give it extra time.
  • If any part of the route, base included, is wet, pick another climb. No send is worth a broken hold.
  • Wet day? These nearby crags aren't sandstone, so rain doesn't weaken the rock (it can still be slick), nearest first:
    1. Lake Nickajack limestone · 13 mi · deep-water soloing; boat or paddle in
    2. Sauta Cave limestone · 51 mi
    3. Blacks Bluff Preserve limestone · 55 mi
    4. Cochran Falls granite · 71 mi
    5. Keller Bend Bluff limestone · 93 mi
    6. Jones Bridge Park granite · 94 mi · bouldering
    7. Mount Yonah granite · 96 mi
    8. Boat Rock granite · 99 mi · bouldering
    Miles are straight line from Sunset Rock. Links go to Mountain Project.
Thank you

Thank you

  • Access Fund

    For keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment across the country.

    Access Fund is the national climbing advocacy nonprofit. It works alongside local climbing organizations, like the coalitions thanked on each area page, on access, stewardship and education, including how long to wait after rain.

    How to assess sandstone after rain ↗

  • Southeastern Climbers Coalition

    For buying, protecting and caring for climbing areas across the Southeast.

    Facebook ↗Instagram ↗

  • Weather data

    Rain gauges via Synoptic Data (MesoWest) from public and private weather networks. Forecasts from the National Weather Service. Model estimates from Open-Meteo when gauges go quiet.

Local climbing community

Facebook groups and pages

Online: forums and meetups