Cascades Bouldering Climbing

The Cascades Recreational Area has a number of quality bouldering opportunities that are easily accessible and within a close proximity (approximately 30min) from Virginia Tech's campus.

Climbing at the Cascades is mostly sandstone. Nice slopers, pinches, and a few small crimps can be found here. In the cooler months the friction is hard to match. There are slabs, vertical faces, pumpy roofs, steep inclines, and attractive stream-side boulders to choose from.

NOTE: If anyone has the drive to put together a simple topo for the cascades, this would be a huge help for the climbing community. I started to compile one but moved to Boone NC before its completion. Feel free to contact me (click -Aaron Parlier- at the top left corner of the page to message) with any questions concerning boulders/problems/locations. Best of luck!

Check out this cool sampler Travis Melin has put together showing a few fun problems you can find here at the 'scades: Sampler

Over 150,000 people visit the Cascades a year. Please be respectful of everyone's recreational experience. It only takes 1 complaint from one person to shut the climbing here down for good.

Cascades falls plunges 69ft into a picturesque pool where you can swim during the summertime. The creek offers quality fishing and the trail is a nice level hike that can be enjoyed by all ages (with a few trail-side boulders for an added bonus).

Climbing on or near the waterfall itself is prohibited (obviously since the rock under it is chossy and wet), and the sign is explicit in warning against it.

Barneys Wall offers some alright roped climbing and is in this area as well. Barney's has it's own page here on Mtn Project in case you've come to this one looking for it by mistake.

Enjoy!

P.S. There are many other fantastic boulders in the Cascades area. We hiked along much of the hillsides and saw many other quality boulders. The approach can be steep, but if you are looking to explore new blocks, there are plenty waiting out there for the motivated and adventurous.