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Colosseum, The 
DC Memorial Boulder 
GPS to summersville lake campground 
GPS to Summersville lake parking area 
Long Wall, The 
Narcissus Cave 
Orange Oswald Wall 
Perot Wall 
Pirates' Cove 
Satisfaction Wall, The 
Whippoorwill 


Summersville Lake

Submitted By: Josh Janes on Jul 6, 2007
Administrator: Ladd Raine
Latitude: 38.2360  Longitude: -80.8553 
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Nuria pulling a swim-up start


Description 

Summersville Lake is not in the NRG Proper, but due to it's proximity it is considered a part of the area. It is home to a host of high quality single-pitch sport routes along its northern shore. Ratings range from 5.easy (such as at the Orange Oswald Wall) to 5.14 (in the Coliseum), and there are even a pair of outrageous projects yet to be done, as well as much untouched cliffline that is either inaccessible or would require a boat. Water levels in the lake vary seasonally, which in turn affects the accessibility of certain routes. During warm months, deep water soloing can be a great relief from oppressive summer heat.


Getting There 

Follow Rte. 19 north out of Fayetteville for about 20 miles, almost reaching the town of Summersville. After crossing the obvious Gauley River bridge, park in a large lot on the east (right) side of the road. Follow a wide trail east for a ways until it descends down, crosses a stream at an old bridge, and then heads back up again. Shortly thereafter head right into the woods at a well-marked trail. Follow this trail past a few branches until it descends steeply by a stream and small waterfall. There is a ladder here to faciliate the scrambling. This will deposit you very near the DC Memorial Boulder. Head climber's left along the cliff band to access the Perot Wall and the Coliseum, or right along the cliff to the Long Wall, Narcissus Cave, and Orange Oswald Wall. Pirates' Cove, a great area that is only accessible during low water, can be reached via a separate trail or by scrambling around from the Colosseum.

The approach includes a 15ft ladder, if you are bringing lassie, plan on lowering it down.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Summersville Lake:
Hippie Dreams   5.7     Sport, 90 feet   Orange Oswald Wall
Chunko Goes Bowling   5.9     Sport, 90 feet   Orange Oswald Wall
Personal Pronoun   5.9+     Sport, 1 pitch, 75 feet   The Long Wall
She got the Bosch, I got Drilled   5.10a     Sport, 90 feet   Orange Oswald Wall
Orange Oswald   5.10a     Sport, 1 pitch, 100 feet   Orange Oswald Wall
Chewy   5.10b     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   The Long Wall
Hot 'n' Bothered   5.10b/c     Sport, 1 pitch, 80 feet   The Long Wall
Moon Pie Deluxe   5.10d     Sport, 80 feet   Orange Oswald Wall
Year of the Pyscho Bitch (a.k.a. Process of Elimination)   5.11b     Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   DC Memorial Boulder
Mutiny   5.11c     Sport, 1 pitch, 75 feet   Pirates' Cove
Satisfaction Guaranteed   5.11c     Sport, 1 pitch, 100 feet   The Satisfaction Wall
Under the Milky Way   5.11d     Sport, 1 pitch, 100 feet   The Long Wall
Narcissus   5.12a     Sport, 1 pitch, 75 feet   Narcissus Cave
All the Way Baby   5.12b     Sport, 1 pitch, 30 feet   DC Memorial Boulder
Reckless Abandon   5.12b     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   The Colosseum
Tobacco Road   5.12b/c     Sport, 100 feet   The Colosseum
Apollo Reed   5.13a     Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   The Colosseum
Pod   5.13b     Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet   The Colosseum
Browse More Classics in Summersville Lake

Featured Route For Summersville Lake
Will starting the business of the climb.

Pod 5.13b  WV : New River Gorge : ... : The Colosseum
Crank out a quick boulder problem through a roof and style up slopey jugs to a traverse into the Pod. Bust out the thin crux and gain a big ledge for the only rest on the route.Once the ledge is left, this route is ON! Only 5 moves to the chains...but they are tough! Remember that without an anchor clip it's not a send....[more]   Browse More Classics in WV


Photos of Summersville Lake Slideshow Add Photo
Cliff jumping is super fun, yet carries a $5000 fine for the first time...thanks army corps or engineers.

Cliff jumping is super fun, yet carries a $5000 fi...

Swimming and climbing during a hot WV summer... life doesn't get better

Swimming and climbing during a hot WV summer... li...

The Collesum on the right and Summersville Lake Bridge on the left.

The Collesum on the right and Summersville Lake Br...

Whippoorwill from the slab.

Whippoorwill from the slab.

Random route shots

Random route shots

A little something for everyone !

A little something for everyone !

Some of the gang

Some of the gang

The ladder

The ladder

Nice little overhangs

Nice little overhangs

Doing the frog

Doing the frog

Camp site after one hell of a storm.

Camp site after one hell of a storm.

Hang Dawgin !

Hang Dawgin !


Comments on Summersville Lake Add Comment
Show which comments
By Ladd Raine
Administrator
From: Plymouth, NH
Dec 10, 2007

There is a forum thread discussing the pros and cons of the Army Corps of Engineers' ban on cliff jumping it was orginally posted by Dennis.

I moved it to the forum because it seemed to be more appropriate to have the conversation there.

Check it out.
Summersville Lake Cliff Jumping Ban

By Ladd Raine
Administrator
From: Plymouth, NH
Mar 5, 2008

Also,

Check out the Dr. Topo guidebook here

By T Seas
Jun 12, 2009

Does anyone know some good cheap cabins around the lake? I have tent camped across from the parking lot at the lake @ mountain lake campgrounds but that is like 10 bucks a person per night. Dont want to camp the dam etiher and figured I'd live it up a bit this year, also want ac for that july heat!! I have heard good stuff about carnifax ferry cottages with 1 good review online.

Either way I figure I could get a cabin for less than tent camping if we have a group of 6. I also found for 30 a night economy cabins at rays cabins and 18 per person at rift rafters.

Lastly for a few years now on memoiral day weekend there have been big groups of drunks camping the approach to whipporwill, where the fire star is at the trail merger. they said they know the people that owns the land but i doubt that, seems to be an option but dont want to get fined. What are the consequences for camping in the woods randomly?

Any beta greatly appreciated (ps I know that DWS is "Banned" but last I checked the police here don't climb rocks so good luck catching me)