All Locations > Maryland > Harper's Ferry

Shenandoah Boulders Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Shenandoah Boulders

Moonshine Boulder 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

West Virginia Wall 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4

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Elevation:	299 ft	91 m
GPS:	39.31902, -77.74165 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	8,133 total · 63/month
Shared By:	C S on Sep 24, 2015
Admins:	Frances Fierst, C S Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closures; Road Closures. See nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/… Details

See nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/…

Description

This area is great… but when you visit you’ll quickly realize that some of the boulders have really bad rock. Do yourself a favor and climb everything on Elk Ridge before visiting this area. The Shenandoah Boulders are fun but not representative of the quality stone that Harpers Ferry climbing has to offer. Elk Ridge is bomber quartzite. The stone in this area leans toward a less bomber phyllite. Nonetheless, you will find some great problems in this area.

Again, the problems here may be on rock of lesser quality than what you see on Elk Ridge but some of the climbs are worth it once you have burned out Elk Ridge. Just watch out for flexing holds.

And lastly, this area takes a bit of nerve but some problems are worth the nervousness. You can see some of the problems in the first part of this video: vimeo.com/12026104

Okay, you've been educated.

Getting There

The most reasonable way to get there is to park on the other side of the Shenandoah in the NPS fee parking lot. Follow the Appalachian Trail across the river via the bridge, follow it until you go into the forest, peel right down a faint trail soon after entering the forest, and you will run into the boulders. It's a pretty easy approach. Maybe takes you 5 minutes to walk over.