Description:
Summersville Lake area has great sport climbing. There are around 150 routes ranging from 5.6 to 5.13c, with the majority of climbs in the 5.10 and up range. The more unique climbing opportunity exists in the summer with free climbing right out of the lake. This can be done by canoeing to the cliff of your choice, climbing right out of the water and falling back in (note that it is still officially illegal to jump off cliffs at Summersville Lake).
Stories:
Directions:
Summersville Lake is just south of the town of Summersville. The main climbing area parking is just north of the Lake Bridge (Google directions below).Activities:
Camping, Canoeing, Rock Climbing (Meadow River), Rock Climbing (New River Gorge), Whitewater (Lower Gauley), Whitewater (Upper Gauley) Whitewater (New River) Fishing, Sight Seeing
Address:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 502 Eighth St., Huntington, W.Va. 25701
Phone/Email:
Project Manager (304) 872-3412. Call (304) 872-5809 for a 24 hour recording providing updated lake and stream information.
Web resources:
rockclimbing.com – Summersville_LakeResources:
Books -“New River Gorge, Meadow River and Summersville Lake” – Steve Cater; “Rock Climbing Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland”- Eric J. Horst