Climbing Near Difficult Run, Virginia

This is an old bridge built for the W&OD railroad. The rock is a mix of quartz, mica schist and sandstone boulders and rocks. It's about 15 long and 10-15 ft high. It is right off of the W&OD bike path and a hiking path so you will probably hear people on the bike path and see people walking their dogs on the hiking path. The rock is pretty solid, some moss that could be cleaned up and some parts were a bit crumbly but that wasn't really an issue. I'm not sure if anyone has bouldered here before (I wouldn't be surprised if some one has) but I climbed 4 fairly distinct problems, all in the V0-1 range (I think this range, I'm not much of a boulderer. They were easy but not complete give-me's). I did these alone without a spotter or crash pad but I would recommend both. Mostly crimpy holds, decent feet and nice finishing jugs to top out on. "Urban bouldering." My friends and I used to hang out here in high school and someone said that there was an ambush on a train here during the civil war so we called it the civil war bridge but I have no idea if that is actually true. From 123 in Vienna take center street north and take a right on mill street and park. The road is very short and dead ends at an entrance to the bike path. Take a left on the bike path and walk half a mile. When you see a black fence on both sides of you, you are over the bridge you will climb on. Take a right on a path down hill just past the fence on your right. Go down hill and you are there. The left side of the bridge is taller and offers longer and more interesting problems. 10-15 min walk on flat ground

Shaded area, climbs are 50-60 feet Farthest crag down the river, except for Echo Rock. From Difficult run, take ridge trail, right onto river trail, its the first obvious crag on your right.

30 - 50 foot cliff that contains some more difficult climbs in the area. Part of the cliffline faces the river (so be sure you can get back up) and the other faces down stream. Park at the lot across from Old Anglers Inn. Walk towards the Angler's Footbridge, cross it, and make a right. (Note that Billy Goat Trail is now marked one-way so follow the rules accordingly.) Hike past the entrance of the Billy Goat Trail on your left, continuing with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal on your right. Take the first two-way shortcut trail that you see on your left after this. Walk until you meet with the Billy Goat trail, and at the intersection, go right, walking briefly until you can scramble down and to the right to the crag.