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Elevation: 1,455 ft 443 m
GPS: 36.90506, -80.14423
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Keegan Dimmick on Aug 23, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Shawn Heath, Aaron Parlier

Welcome Suggest change

Virginia is for lovers; and we climbers all love pulling on quality stone. Whether it is trad, mixed, sport, or bouldering that you are looking for, the Old Dominion State has plenty of rock that's just lookin' for love.

Check out Great Falls, Old Rag, Elizabeth Furnace, or Breaks Interstate for lots of fun and exciting Trad and TR routes. These fine areas, along with most of the other trad and TR areas in VA, are generally located in gorgeous parks and unique settings. Keep watch for many other areas that are being established across the Old Dominion.

Breaks Interstate or the recently re-opened Hidden Valley for some great sport routes. Breaks is a sport climbing mecca-in-the-making with an untold number of potential routes to be developed and a great number recently established, high quality sandstone routes. Hidden Valley is a gorgeous sport climbing paradise in Appalachia boasting over 300 routes, just off of Interstate 81.

There is a vast amount of quality bouldering opportunities scattered across Virginia. All across the state you'll find high quality boulder fields, great local areas, and small obscure spots throughout VA with many noteworthy fields found in the Southwestern corner. Mcafees Knob has tons of great bouldering and The Cascades is an up-and-coming favorite. For the best warm-weather bouldering in VA, and the largest established boulderfield in the state, be sure to visit Grayson Highlands State Park.

Guidebooks Suggest change

Old Rag: A Climber’s Guide, is a comprehensive guidebook to over 300 meticulously documented routes, detailed climbing topos, hand-drawn maps, entertaining insights, and photographs spanning decades.

-The Horst guide, "Rock Climbing Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland" is a great reference for popular VA destinations.

-Grab the PATC Great Falls book for more routes and info on the area. Also available for sale at the visitor's center.

http://www.potomacmountainclub.org/content/view/83/115/

-Check out Graysonhighlandsbouldering for more photos, videos, problems, the GHSP Boudering Guidebook, bolderfield maps, park info and upcoming events.

-Also, if you want to download the GHSP bouldering guide on your iPhone or Android check out the Rakkup Mobile GHSP Guidebook App: rakkup.com/grayson-highland…

Local Climbing Organizations

Suggest change
If you are looking for specific area or access information for VA climbing, or to get involved or support climbing access and stewardship initiatives, contacting local climber organizations is the go-to option:

Mid Atlantic Climbers (MAC): "MAC is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving access to climbing areas in the Mid-Atlantic region, while promoting responsible climbing and environmental stewardship. MAC serves as a liaison between the climbing community and land managers (park or private) for the crags in [the Maryland and eastern Virginia] region." The link to MAC's website can be found here: http://www.midatlanticclimbers.org 

Central Appalachia Climbers Coalition (CACC): A 501-C3 non-profit coalition focused on preserving and promoting climber access while hosting and supporting climber driven stewardship initiatives throughout the mountainous region of Central Appalachia. Here is a link to the CACC's Website.

6,437 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

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Classic Climbing Routes at Virginia

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V2 5+
 50
Highland Highball
Boulder
V3 6A
 110
Periscope
Boulder
V5 6C
 86
True Grit
Boulder
V5 6C
 65
Front Man
Boulder
V7 7A+
 42
Flying Spaghetti Monster
Boulder
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 66
Simon Says
Sport
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 63
Anonymous Flake Right
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 51
Belle of The Ball
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 140
Strawberry Fields
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 45
Spirit Blade
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 85
Lost Arrow
Trad, TR
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 42
Bushwhack Crack
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 60
Oh My God Dihedral
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 168
Leading Should Feel This Way
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 46
Cornucopia of Delightful Climbing
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Highland Highball Southwest Virgi… > … > Horizon Area > Highland Highball
 50
V2 5+ Boulder
Periscope Southwest Virgi… > … > Contact Station… > Periscope Boulder
 110
V3 6A Boulder
True Grit Southwest Virgi… > … > Contact Station… > True Grit Boulder
 86
V5 6C Boulder
Front Man Southwest Virgi… > … > A.V.P. Boulders > A.V.P. Boulder
 65
V5 6C Boulder
Flying Spaghetti Monster Southwest Virgi… > … > Picnic Area Bou… > Olympus Boulder
 42
V7 7A+ Boulder
Simon Says Southwest Virgi… > … > Pinnacle Rock Area > Desert Pony Buttress
 66
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Anonymous Flake Right Shenandoah & NW… > Elizabeth Furnace > Buzzard Rocks
 63
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Trad, TR
Belle of The Ball Southwest Virgi… > … > Prospectors > Eastern Prospectors
 51
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Strawberry Fields Shenandoah & NW… > … > Old Rag > Reflector Oven
 140
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Spirit Blade Southwest Virgi… > … > Pinnacle Rock Area > Pinnacle Left
 45
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Lost Arrow DC & Northern V… > Great Falls > Aid Box
 85
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, TR
Bushwhack Crack Shenandoah & NW… > … > Old Rag > Wall That Dreams Are…
 42
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
Oh My God Dihedral Shenandoah & NW… > … > Old Rag > Middle God's Area-Left
 60
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
Leading Should Feel This Way Shenandoah & NW… > Elizabeth Furnace > Talking Headwall
 168
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Cornucopia of Delightful Cl… Southwest Virgi… > … > Prospectors > Eastern Prospectors
 46
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Virginia »

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