Loft Mountain Campground
Campground
Campground · 2.9 mi from the trail
Virginia · Rock climbing · Elkton · Near Staunton
Lower River
- 4 routes
- V0 – V1+
- Bouldering
- Aug–Nov
- best months
Is Lower River open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Shenandoah National Park. It doesn't name Lower River, so check the source for the area it covers.
Active Closure
Park closure covering Shenandoah National Park · NPS · Shenandoah National Park
Prescribed Fire in Big Meadows
Park alert covering Shenandoah National Park · NPS · Shenandoah National Park
Parking at Boundary Access Areas
Park alert covering Shenandoah National Park · NPS · Shenandoah National Park
As of · Source: NPS · Shenandoah National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Lower River is a climbing area in Shenandoah National Park, within the Shenandoah Wilderness in Virginia, managed by the National Park Service. It sits in the park's backcountry, and a fee is charged for access. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 73°F and September highs around 78°F, while July peaks near 86°F. That station sits well below the wilderness, so temperatures up high run cooler. Uphill Crag II is just 0.1 mile away, and Uphill Crag I is about 0.9 mile off. Hikers can reach the Brown Mtn Trail and Rocky Mountain Run Trail, both about 1.1 mile away. For an overnight stay, Loft Mountain Campground is roughly 2.9 miles from the area.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after If it rains Grand Caverns Museum and Entrance
Museum
On your way back · 9 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Staunton- Uphill Crag IIRock climbing0.1 mi
- Uphill Crag IRock climbing0.9 mi
- Brown Mtn TrailHiking1.1 mi
- Rocky Mountain Run TrailHiking1.1 mi
- Big Run Portal TrailHiking1.1 mi
- Loft Mountain CampgroundCamping2.9 mi
- Roach RiverCanoeing8.3 mi
- South Fork Shenandoah RiverCanoeing8.6 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Primary CragRock climbing · ~45 min drivePhoto: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Summit CragsRock climbing · ~46 min drivePhoto: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Old RagRock climbing · ~46 min drivePhoto: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Skyline Wall (PATC Wall)Rock climbing · ~46 min drivePhoto: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Reflector OvenRock climbing · ~46 min drivePhoto: April Pink, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Middle God's Area - RightRock climbing · ~46 min drivePhoto: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Uphill Crag IRock climbing · ~2 min drive
- The BadlandsRock climbing · ~8 min drive
- Bear Den MountainRock climbing · ~8 min drive
- Primary Bouldering WallRock climbing · ~8 min drive
Also worth it near here
Loft Mountain Campground Trail 1Hiking · ~5 min drivePhoto: Shenandoah National Park from Virginia, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- Jones Run FallsWaterfall · ~8 min drive
BlackrockSummit · ~10 min drivePhoto: Shenandoah National Park from Virginia, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- Roach RiverCanoeing · ~14 min drive
Best time to visit Lower River
Best months: 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.
Jan
42° / 23°
10 wet · 3 snow
Feb
46° / 24°
9 wet · 3 snow
Mar
54° / 30°
12 wet · 2 snow
Apr
65° / 40°
13 wet
May
73° / 50°
14 wet
Jun
82° / 60°
13 wet
Jul
86° / 64°
12 wet
Aug
84° / 62°
12 wet
Sep
78° / 55°
10 wet
Oct
67° / 43°
10 wet
Nov
56° / 32°
10 wet · 1 snow
Dec
46° / 26°
11 wet · 2 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dale Enterprise, VA, 18 mi away at 1,358 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
