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Elevation: 1,688 ft
GPS: 38.236, -80.8553
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Josh Janes on Jul 6, 2007
Admins: Pat Goodman, Chris Whisenhunt, Amanda Smith, Pnelson

Description Suggest change

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About a half-hour north of the New River Gorge is the Gauley River drainage. The main northern shore of Lake Summersville is home to a host of high-quality single-pitch sport routes. Ratings range from 5.easy (slabs left of Orange Oswald) to 5.15 (in the Coliseum). There are plenty of as-of-yet unsent projects, and lots of new development potential, too. Water levels in the lake vary seasonally, which in turn affects the accessibility of certain routes. During warm months, the reservoir can be a great relief from the oppressive summer heat. During colder seasons, the drained lakebed opens up as a treeless landscape that soaks up all the sunlight, making it a great cold-weather destination.

Beyond the main north shore Summersville climbing, Whippoorwill has great swimming and DWS in the summer and amazing roped moderates in the winter. Long Point is another great early spring/late fall destination, with relatively few crowds. Farther downstream, below the dam that forms the lake, you'll find adventure crags along the Gauley River like Carnifex Ferry and some excellent bouldering.

CURRENT WATER LEVEL AT SUMMERSVILLE LAKE

Whippoorwill, Long Point, and parts of Summersville Lake are accessible when the reading for Summersville Lake at the link above is below 1600ft. When they drain the lake is dependent on many different factors and it's hard to say when it will be down/up with any sort of certainty.

Please note that there have been a few break-ins in these areas. Make sure to park as close to the road as possible and keep valuables out of sight. It can be a bad idea to park behind the big hill at the parking lot!

Getting There Suggest change

See individual crags for directions; all are roughly a half hour north of the NRG on Highway 19.

331 Total Climbs

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Location: Summersville (Gauley River) Area Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Summersville (Gauley River) Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 145
Latch Key Kids
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 26
Indian Summer
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 216
Masuko
Sport
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 431
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 125
Maximum Overdrive
Sport
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 79
Mutiny
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 280
Under the Milky Way
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 58
Flirting with E
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 336
Narcissus
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 185
Reckless Abandon
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 65
Ly'n and Stealin'
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 126
Apollo Reed
Sport
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 31
The Mercy Seat
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 65
Pod
Sport
5.14b 8c 33 X+ 33 E9 7b
 4
Still Life
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Latch Key Kids Whippoorwill
 145
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport
Indian Summer Summersville La… > Pirate's Cove
 26
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Masuko Whippoorwill
 216
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Satisfaction Guaranteed Summersville La… > Satisfaction Wall
 431
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Maximum Overdrive Summersville La… > Long Wall
 125
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Mutiny Summersville La… > Pirate's Cove
 79
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Sport
Under the Milky Way Summersville La… > Long Wall
 280
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Flirting with E Summersville La… > Long Wall
 58
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Narcissus Summersville La… > Narcissus Cave
 336
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Reckless Abandon Summersville La… > Coliseum
 185
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
Ly'n and Stealin' Summersville La… > Circus Wall
 65
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Apollo Reed Summersville La… > Coliseum
 126
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
The Mercy Seat Summersville La… > Coliseum
 31
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Sport
Pod Summersville La… > Coliseum
 65
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
Still Life Summersville La… > Coliseum
 4
5.14b 8c 33 X+ 33 E9 7b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Summersville (Gauley River) Area »

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