The Big Area
- 6 routes
- V0- – V7-8
- Bouldering
- Apr–Oct
- best months
The Big Area is a climbing area on State Game Land 157 in Pennsylvania, managed by State Fish and Wildlife. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Caves, The and Caves Trail both about 0.1 mile away and Grovelfest and Glass Wall, The each about 0.2 mile off. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the sweet spots. Typical averages from the nearby Bucksville weather station run to highs around 72°F in May and 76°F in September, with July peaking near 85°F. Mink Trail, a hike about 1.4 miles away, and Cold Spot, a mountain biking spot about 1.5 miles away, round out the options close by. East Branch Perkiomen Creek, a canoeing route about 8 miles away, is the closest water.
- The CavesRock climbing0.1 mi
- Caves TrailRock climbing0.1 mi
- GrovelfestRock climbing0.2 mi
- The Glass WallRock climbing0.2 mi
Mink TrailHikingPhoto: michaelwm25, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1.4 mi- Cold SpotMountain biking1.5 mi
- Hammer TrailMountain biking1.5 mi
- East Branch Perkiomen CreekCanoeing8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
f. Cramped FaceRock climbing · ~12 min drivePhoto: Andrew Gnias, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Ralph Stover State Park (High Rocks)Rock climbing · ~12 min drivePhoto: Andrew Gnias, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- o. Chain Reaction ButtressRock climbing · ~12 min drivePhoto: Andrew Gnias, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Caves TrailRock climbing · Next door
- GrovelfestRock climbing · Next door
- The Glass WallRock climbing · Next door
- GatewayRock climbing · Next door
- Area 51 (uphill side)Rock climbing · Next door
- Bokow BoulderRock climbing · Next door
- Area 51Rock climbing · Next door
Best time to visit The Big Area
Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
38° / 19°
8 wet
Feb
41° / 20°
7 wet
Mar
50° / 28°
8 wet
Apr
63° / 38°
9 wet
May
72° / 49°
10 wet
Jun
80° / 58°
9 wet
Jul
85° / 63°
9 wet
Aug
82° / 61°
9 wet
Sep
76° / 54°
8 wet
Oct
65° / 42°
8 wet
Nov
54° / 31°
7 wet
Dec
43° / 25°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bucksville, PA, 1.2 mi away at 387 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
