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Roanoke River Gorge Rock Climbing
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| Elevation: | 1,110 ft |
| GPS: |
37.25276, -79.867 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
| Page Views: | 25,641 total · 146/month |
| Shared By: | Jonathan Gerst on Nov 9, 2009 · Updates |
| Admins: | Shawn Heath, Aaron Parlier |
Access Issue: Dangers beware!
Details
Parking area and crag located on public land (i.e. Blue Ridge Parkway/Dept. of the Interior), but established routes have not been officially approved by Park Service so tread lightly and leave no trace.
Crag can be accessed from above and below, but both trails are steep and on loose terrain.
Always wear a helmet and announce rockfall. Crag is riddled with poison ivy, ticks, and snakes during the growing season.
Crag can be accessed from above and below, but both trails are steep and on loose terrain.
Always wear a helmet and announce rockfall. Crag is riddled with poison ivy, ticks, and snakes during the growing season.
Description
Roanoke River Gorge (RoRG)
Sport, Mixed, Trad and TR on 50 to 90 ft tall, very old (i.e. Grenville Orogeny), low grade metamorphic granulite. Rock quality: very weathered, sharp, and difficult to read. Loose exterior reveals quality technical face, dihedral, roofs, slabs, and handcracks. Routes range in difficulty from 5.7 to 5.12. As of Fall 2009, 10 established routes are present. However, this area has the potential for much more route development, as the cliff continues downstream for about a mile. Considered a choss heap by some, the RoRG is a veritable mecca for rock starved climbers in the area. Trash and dirty routes are a problem...so please lend a hand with the cleanup effort.
Sport, Mixed, Trad and TR on 50 to 90 ft tall, very old (i.e. Grenville Orogeny), low grade metamorphic granulite. Rock quality: very weathered, sharp, and difficult to read. Loose exterior reveals quality technical face, dihedral, roofs, slabs, and handcracks. Routes range in difficulty from 5.7 to 5.12. As of Fall 2009, 10 established routes are present. However, this area has the potential for much more route development, as the cliff continues downstream for about a mile. Considered a choss heap by some, the RoRG is a veritable mecca for rock starved climbers in the area. Trash and dirty routes are a problem...so please lend a hand with the cleanup effort.
Getting There
Take Blue Ridge Parkway to Milepost 115, and park just across the street from the Explorer Park entrance at the parking lot that is located on south side of bridge over the Roanoke River. Take the trail from the backside of the parking lot, which will lead you back under the bridge (i.e. downstream). The lower trail is accessed by walking off the backside of the Roanoke River overlook/observation point. The upper trail is accessed by veering right on all trail forks, until the trail obviously parallels the top of the cliff, at which point veer left, until you reach the descent gully just under the cliff face.
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Photos
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