Roped climbing at Pirate's Cove is only accessible when the water is down during the late fall/early winter, typically early October through early May. Check water levels here: Summersville Lake.
Pirate's Cove is located climber's left of the Coliseum.
From the Main Parking Lot:
HIKING DIRECTIONS: From the parking lot, follow a wide gravel trail past the gate for 1-2 minutes, when the trail splits at the base of a hill, trend right and up to the top of the hill on a dirt road. As of 2023, there is a temporary DANGER Equipment Crossing sign at the top of this hill. Continue along this rocky dirt road down the hill for 10-15 minutes, this trail eventually ends up at Pirate's Cove, home to awesome winter bouldering and the classic Mutiny, 5.11d.
WATER APPROACH: In the summertime, the approach to Pirate's Cove can be paddled or boated easily from Salmon Run Boat Launch. From Salmon Run, at the end of the "No Wake" zone, paddle under the bridge and hug the cliff line as much as reasonably possible with your craft of choice. Pirate's Cove, AKA traditionally known as "Bastard's Cove", is a beautiful waterfall cove with striking overhanging walls.
Westminster, CO
Does the water ever get very warm? Jan 30, 2009
Plymouth, NH
Plymouth, NH
Classic. Feb 5, 2009
East Lyme, CT
I have climbed 3 times here since the ban and have never been talked to and all the other climbers I have talked to there have not been fined or know anyone that has. We had a police boat motor by when we were climbing 2 walls down from whipporwill and they didn't even stop to watch if we fell, they just motored on by. To me it seems they are trying to stop drunk rednecks from dying as they jump off without spotting a landing. I read that 7 bodies on average were being pulled out of the water and sent to the morgue per year. Once again climbers are getting a bad rep from nonclimbing idiots.
5 years ago a drunk southern boy jumped unanounced while I was climbing by the cove, landed 1 foot from a floating log and I even warned him to spot his landings and anounce jumps in the future, the kid was too drunk or southern to understand my concern, he replied "i'll just kick it out of the way when I land, no need to wory" !!! My spotter had warned me about the log so I climbed to a ledge and was waiting for it pass when the kid splashed down.
Anyways back to the fines, any acounts of a fine issued to a falling climber, or a climber watched or talked to by the police? Jul 24, 2009
Boulder, Colorado
Cary, NC
Twentynine Palms, CA
Albany
In any event, be prepared for this obstacle, especially if you are carrying down a lot of gear or a small child or anything of the sort. Aug 16, 2021