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Elevation: 1,688 ft 515 m
GPS: 38.236, -80.8553
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Josh Janes on Jul 6, 2007
Admins: Pat Goodman, Chris Whisenhunt, Amanda Smith, Pnelson

Description Suggest change

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About a half-hour north of the New River Gorge is the Gauley River drainage. The main northern shore of Lake Summersville is home to a host of high-quality single-pitch sport routes. Ratings range from 5.easy (slabs left of Orange Oswald) to 5.15 (in the Coliseum). There are plenty of as-of-yet unsent projects, and lots of new development potential, too. Water levels in the lake vary seasonally, which in turn affects the accessibility of certain routes. During warm months, the reservoir can be a great relief from the oppressive summer heat. During colder seasons, the drained lakebed opens up as a treeless landscape that soaks up all the sunlight, making it a great cold-weather destination.

Beyond the main north shore Summersville climbing, Whippoorwill has great swimming and DWS in the summer and amazing roped moderates in the winter. Long Point is another great early spring/late fall destination, with relatively few crowds. Farther downstream, below the dam that forms the lake, you'll find adventure crags along the Gauley River like Carnifex Ferry and some excellent bouldering.

CURRENT WATER LEVEL AT SUMMERSVILLE LAKE

Whippoorwill, Long Point, and parts of Summersville Lake are accessible when the reading for Summersville Lake at the link above is below 1600ft. When they drain the lake is dependent on many different factors and it's hard to say when it will be down/up with any sort of certainty.

Getting There Suggest change

See individual crags for directions; all are roughly a half hour north of the NRG on Highway 19.

380 Total Climbs

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Location: Summersville (Gauley River) Area Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Summersville (Gauley River) Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 78
The Great Reefer Barrier
Trad
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 167
Latch Key Kids
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 253
Masuko
Sport
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 486
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 152
Maximum Overdrive
Sport
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 86
Mutiny
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 319
Under the Milky Way
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 65
Flirting with E
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 56
Six Dollars a.k.a. Hot and Bothered
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 375
Narcissus
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 214
Reckless Abandon
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 76
Lyin' and Stealin'
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 136
Apollo Reed
Sport
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 37
Mercy Seat
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 76
Pod
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Great Reefer Barrier Summersville La… > Orange Oswald Wall
 78
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Latch Key Kids Whippoorwill
 167
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport
Masuko Whippoorwill
 253
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Satisfaction Guaranteed Summersville La… > Satisfaction Wall
 486
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Maximum Overdrive Summersville La… > Long Wall
 152
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Mutiny Summersville La… > Pirate's Cove
 86
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Sport
Under the Milky Way Summersville La… > Long Wall
 319
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Flirting with E Summersville La… > Long Wall
 65
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Six Dollars a.k.a. Hot and… Summersville La… > Long Wall
 56
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Narcissus Summersville La… > Narcissus Cave
 375
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Reckless Abandon Summersville La… > Coliseum
 214
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
Lyin' and Stealin' Summersville La… > Circus Wall
 76
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Apollo Reed Summersville La… > Coliseum
 136
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Mercy Seat Summersville La… > Coliseum
 37
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Sport
Pod Summersville La… > Coliseum
 76
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Summersville (Gauley River) Area »

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