Newly dedicated 685-acre tract expected to become premier rock climbing destination [photos]

Climbers Holden Brock, Sam Briley, and Spencer Chinery, from right, climb over boulders to their next route on Denny West at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes. Climbers Holden Brock, Sam Briley, and Spencer Chinery, from right, climb over boulders to their next route on Denny West at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

By David Cobb March 20, 2017 3 min read

Photo Gallery

Marion County climbing destination ready to rock

Kathleen Nolte, Cody Roney, Penny Bird, and Ruthie Bird, from left, stand on the overlook at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

A small falls and creek are seen at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

Water runs from an icicle on Denny West at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

A face of Denny West is seen at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

A group of climbers looks up at their next challenge on Denny West at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

Climber Willis Young puts on his climbing shoes while Sam Briley prepares to belay on his route on Denny West at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

Climbers Sam Briley, Holden Brock, Spencer Chinery, and Sierra Saylors, from left, stand beneath the face of Denny West as they prepare to tackle a new route at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

Willis Young lead climbs a route on Denny West at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

Sam Briley climbs a route on Denny West at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

Holden Brock climbs a route on Denny West at the newly dedicated Denny Cove addition to South Cumberland State Park on Friday, March 17, 2017, near Sequatchie, Tenn. The 685-acre addition is home to more than 150 rock climbing routes.

Denny Cove project partners

Lyndhurst FoundationLand Trust for TennesseeRiverview FoundationAccess FundSoutheastern Climbers CoalitionFriends of South Cumberland State ParkOpen Space InstituteThe Conservation AllianceThe Conservation FundTennessee State Land Acquisition FundTennessee Heritage Conservation FundStone Summit Climbing and FitnessTriple Crown Bouldering SeriesHigh Point Climbing and FitnessRiver RocksSource: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

DENNY COVE, Tenn. – A team of conservationists bent on turning Denny Cove into a publicly accessible rock climbing destination encountered plenty of obstacles on the route.

But they stayed in the harness, eyes fixed on a day like Friday.

Dozens of nonprofit leaders, climbing advocates, state park officials and community leaders gathered deep in the woods of Marion County on Friday afternoon to commemorate the state’s acquisition of the pristine 685-acre tract.

“It’s like getting to the end of a really long, arduous climb,” said Zachary Lesch-Huie, Southeast regional director for Access Fund, a climbing advocacy organization.