Cheat Canyon Bouldering

Many people know of Cooper’s Rock State Forest, but few realize that it is only a small portion of the climbing in the entire Cheat Canyon. The routes listed are mostly part of the rock band on the opposing (north facing) side of the canyon from Cooper’s Rock’s main areas. This includes Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area and any un-posted timber lands that have been developed. There is an extensive and overwhelming amount of rock in this canyon, which now boasts about 600 routes, and thousands upon thousands of quality boulder problems, many of which have yet to be sent. Currently, routes range from 5.fun to 5.13+/14-, including multiple projects that may push the grades up to 5.14b/c. Boulder problems range from V0 to about V12, with numerous projects that push things up to the V14-17 range. The rock type is Pottsville sandstone, which is the main type of rock found in the Chestnut Ridge anticline, whose southern portion makes up the Cheat Canyon, and northern portion creates the well-known Southwest PA bouldering. Pottsville sandstone is known to be very gritty, and is comparable to the famous gritstone in the U.K., both in quality and style. However, this rock type can be more varied, and range from soft, pocketed sandstone like that of the Red River Gorge, to cobblestone, to fine grained, crimpy sandstone similar to that of the New River Gorge. Frequently, it forms a combination of styles, making for extremely technical rock climbing.  

There are dozens of areas, and hundreds of bouldering areas, but some of the finest areas are currently experiencing access issues.  These will be posted once the local climber’s coalition has gained stable access.

The only guidebook for this area is “Cheat Canyon Rock” by Andrew Leich, which can be ordered on cheatcanyonrock.com, or picked up at one of the Pittsburgh gyms.