All Locations > W Virginia > New River Gorge… > Meadow River Gorge > Lower Meadow

3 Greatest Show Area Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in 3 Greatest Show Area

L › R R › L A › Z

	Back to Power T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Bearded Lady T 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Big Top T 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Blackened Tan S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Great White Dihedral aka Begoon/Artz Corner T 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
	Greatest Show On Earth, The T 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Hack Attack aka Carny Crack T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Interpreting Intermission S 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
	Join the Circus S 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
	Just Another Pretty Face S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Mango Tango S 5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a
	Mighty Dog (aka Lavender Days) S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Monsterotica S 5.13+ 8b 30 X- 31 E7 7a
	Pretty Faces Call Me Daddy S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Puppy Chow S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Ringmaster, The T 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Ruda Tovar (AKA Porter's 12c) S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Scratchy Biscuits T 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Ziggerknot T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b

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Elevation:	1,829 ft
GPS:	38.15303, -80.93231 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	50,932 total · 283/month
Shared By:	Jeremy Steck on Jul 15, 2009 · Updates
Admins:	Pat Goodman, Chris Whisenhunt, Amanda Smith, Pnelson Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: PARKING ALONG HIGHWAY 19 Details

**NO PARKING SIGNS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ALONG ROUTE 19 WHERE IT HAS BEEN CUSTOMARY TO PARK FOR MEADOW RIVER CLIMBING AND BOATING ACCESS. THIS MEANS NO PARKING ALONG ROUTE 19 SOUTH, BETWEEN THE BRIDGE AND UNDERWOOD RD.

THERE IS A NEW PARKING LOT ON DIETZ ROAD OFF OF UNDERWOOD ROAD, PLEASE CARPOOL***

Description

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This crag defines quality over quantity—not too many lines, but those that do exist in the few hundred feet of cliffline are some of the area's best. It contains what for years was the hardest sport line at the NRG (Mango Tango), and the hardest trad line (Greatest Show on Earth). Although these lines are no longer the "hardest" in the area, they are still undeniably aesthetic, and not repeated frequently. Beyond this, there are a few other great sport routes, such as the endurance lines Puppy Chow and Lavender Days, the exquisite hard face Fruity Pants, and some fun cracks like Big Top, Begoon-Artz Corner, and Back to Power. Many of the routes stay dry in the rain. The only thing this area lacks is moderate sport climbs.

Getting There

Follow the directions for the Lower Meadow. After walking along the ATV trail for five or ten minutes, you will see the cliffline on your right. As soon as you see some huge roofs and a striking yellow and orange headwall that make you go "Oh my God, look at THAT!" take a climber's trail up to the cliff. You can orient everything from Greatest Show, which is the unmistakable roof crack to hanging corner.

19 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at 3 Greatest Show Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 55 ● Great White Dihedral aka Begoon/… Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 12 ● Hack Attack aka Carny Crack Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 7 ● Ziggerknot Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 11 ● Back to Power Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 12 ● Join the Circus Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 87 ● Just Another Pretty Face Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 18 ● Big Top Trad
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 55 ● Puppy Chow Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 19 ● Ruda Tovar (AKA Porter's 12c) Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 8 ● The Greatest Show On Earth Trad
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 24 ● Mighty Dog (aka Lavender Days) Sport