C) Second Pillar
- 9 routes
- 5.8 – 5.12-
- Trad · Sport · Mixed
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
C) Second Pillar is a climbing area in Virginia, about half a mile from South Richmond. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with B) First Pillar, D) Third Pillar and A) Main Wall all within about a tenth of a mile. Manchester Wall is also close by, and the Manchester Floodwall Walk is a short hike away. The area is a compact, close-knit set of pillars and walls. The routes here run from about 5.8 to 5.12-, with trad and mixed styles making up most of the options. The hardest route listed is MSR at 5.12-, and the easiest is McKenna at 5.8. The climbing is a mix of sport and trad, so there is something for different kinds of climbers. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Richmond show October highs around 71°F and April highs around 70°F, while July averages about 90°F. Nearby, the Richmond Slave Trail is about 0.6 miles away, and the North Bank Trail is about 0.8 miles away for mountain biking. Paddlers can reach the Chickahominy River about 7 miles off.
Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit C) Second Pillar
Best months: March–May and September–November. 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
48° / 29°
10 wet · 2 snow
Feb
52° / 30°
9 wet · 2 snow
Mar
60° / 37°
10 wet · 1 snow
Apr
70° / 46°
11 wet
May
78° / 56°
11 wet
Jun
86° / 65°
10 wet
Jul
90° / 69°
11 wet
Aug
88° / 68°
10 wet
Sep
81° / 61°
9 wet
Oct
71° / 49°
9 wet
Nov
60° / 39°
9 wet
Dec
51° / 32°
10 wet · 1 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Richmond Intl Ap, VA, 7.1 mi away at 164 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
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B) First Pillar
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B) First Pillar in Virginia has 8 climbing routes across 4 grades, offering sport and trad styles.
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D) Third Pillar
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D) Third Pillar in Virginia has 8 routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
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A) Main Wall
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A) Main Wall in Virginia has 21 climbing routes across 10 grades in mixed, sport, and trad styles.
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Manchester Wall
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Manchester Wall in Virginia has 10 trad routes across 6 grades.
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Browns Island
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Browns Island in Virginia has 14 climbing routes with 9 difficulty grades.
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Belle Isle1
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Belle Isle1 in Virginia has 2 climbing routes featuring bouldering and top-rope.
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Whileaway Boulder
~1 min drive
Whileaway Boulder in Virginia has 6 bouldering routes across 5 difficulty grades.
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Quarry
~1 min drive
Quarry in Virginia has 17 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering sport and top-rope styles.
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RVA Riva Trash Area
~1 min drive
RVA Riva Trash Area is a bouldering area in Virginia with 6 routes at 4 grades.
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The Cove
~2 min drive
Cove, The is a bouldering crag in Virginia with 4 routes.
