Virginia · Rock climbing · Catawba · Near Buchanan

Left Dragon

6 routes
V0- – V4
Bouldering
Mar–Apr, Aug–Nov
best months

Is Left Dragon open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Appalachian National Scenic Trail. It doesn't name Left Dragon, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: NPS · Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Left Dragon is a bouldering area in Virginia, set within the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and managed by the National Park Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking spots, with Dragon Boulders just 0.1 mile away and McAfee's Knob Trail and the Catawba Greenway Trail both about 0.2 mile off. The area is close to the trail network, so it works well as a stop on a longer outing. The climbing here is all bouldering, with six routes spread across the V0- to V4 range. The easiest are Dragons Breath Arete at V0- and Dragon Crack at V0-1, while Firedrake (Hydra Start) is the hardest at V4. The routes are short and sit close together, so a visit can be built around a few boulders rather than a long climb. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Roanoke show October highs around 69°F and May highs around 76°F, and the station sits roughly 900 feet lower than the boulders, so temperatures at the site run cooler. Summer is warmer, with July highs near 86°F, and winter brings highs in the mid-40s and a few snowy days a month from December through February.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Pig Farm Campsite

    Campground

    Campground · 3.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Burger King

    Fast food

    On your way back · 5 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rainsWarfieldian, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Virginia Museum of Transportation

    Museum

    Museum · 11 mi from Buchanan

    Transport museum in Roanoke, Virginia

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Warfieldian, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Buchanan
  • Best time to go · Mar–Apr, Aug–Nov

    Best time to visit Left Dragon

    Best months: March–April and August–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.

    1. Jan

      46° / 25°

      9 wet · 2 snow

    2. Feb

      49° / 27°

      9 wet · 2 snow

    3. Mar

      58° / 33°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      68° / 42°

      12 wet

    5. May

      76° / 51°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 60°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 64°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 63°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 56°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      69° / 45°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      58° / 34°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      49° / 28°

      10 wet · 1 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Roanoke 8 N, VA, 7.5 mi away at 1,157 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (6)

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
No fee

Source: National Park Service API