Exerpt from; Hiking Upward: Bull Run Conservancy The Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve (BRMNAP) is owned by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF), an agency of the Commonwealth. VOF has an agreement with the Bull Run Mountains Conservancy, Inc. (BRMC), for the purpose of environmental and historical education, research, natural resource management, and public access. This hiking area has many interconnecting trails leading to old mills, homesteads, and family grave sites. Two of the main attractions include the Beverley Mill, that most people who travel I66 towards Front Royal will recognize, and the Elvis Rock Overlook.
A colored trail map of the area can be found at the website mentioned above, or a more official one, including marker numbers, can be found here; brmconservancy.org/images/trail_map.jpg
Climb; After hiking the Chestnut Ridge trail (colored Blue) towards marker 14, you'll reach the overlook where the climb is located. Looks like some decent top-roping, trad, and bouldering in select spots. Climbs range between 10ft. and 40/50ft. You could say this has everything, but you'd need to use your imagination to make anything higher than a 5.9/5.10 climb. I managed to find a spot just before sunset to boulder just past where the trail dumps you out at the overlook. V1-V5 boulders I can confirm.
There is a general store on Rt. 55 just before making the turn onto Turner Dr. And a 24hr Sheetz at the intersection of Rt.15 and Rt.55.
Getting There
From DC: Take Rt. 66 West towards Front Royal ;go 36mi Exit in Haymarket onto Rt. 15 South/James Madison Hwy ;go 0.3mi As you turn onto Rt 15, take the next traffic light VA-55 West/John Marshall Hwy ;go 2.7mi Turn left at Turner Dr. ;go 0.1mi Turn left at Beverly Mills Dr. ;go 1.0mi Go to the end of the road and park.
By Aaron James Parlier Administrator From: Boone, NC / Grayson, VA Jun 15, 2012
Danyl, this place looks awesome! And its in a great location for climbers in the area too! Are there any access concerns or limitations to climbers as far as regulations? I have been told that climbing isn’t permitted at Bull Run Mountain but I don’t think this is the same area you are talking about. Just looking out for any access issues and so forth. Thanks for adding this place, it looks great! Any specific climbs/problems for the place?
Climbing is restricted at this area unfortunately. I have been up there several times and there are signs that state "no climbing". I thought I would be daring one day and a friend and I took a crash pad up there but we only got one or two boulder problems in before we got yelled at by a ranger. Apparently there are rattlesnakes and other dangerous snakes that reside in the area so they don't want climbers accidentally getting bitten. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. It's a great hike though with beautiful views!
~Sarene
By Aaron James Parlier Administrator From: Boone, NC / Grayson, VA Jun 16, 2012
thanks Sarene, I was hoping this wasnt the same area. Too bad, it looks and sounds great...