Virginia · Rock climbing · Salem · Near Buchanan

Mayflower Boulder

5 routes
V0 – V6
Bouldering
Mar–Apr, Aug–Nov
best months

Mayflower Boulder 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 spots, with Middle Dragon, Right Corridor and Arrow Boulder Area all about 0.1 mile away, and McAfee's Knob Trail just as close. The area has five bouldering routes, all rated on the V scale from V0 to V6. The Compact is the easiest at V0, and Squanto is the hardest at V6. Cargo Hold and Ship's Prow are both V3. Cabin Fever is V5+ and was first climbed by Jay Shultis around 2003 or 2004. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Roanoke show May highs around 76°F and September highs around 79°F, while July peaks near 86°F. That station sits about 800 feet lower than the boulders, so temperatures here run cooler. Nearby, the Catawba Greenway Trail is about 0.4 mile away, and Straight Branch Iron Mountain Shelter offers camping roughly 5 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Pig Farm Campsite

    Campground

    Campground · 3.4 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 Mayflower Boulder

    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, 7.3 mi away at 1,157 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.

Routes (5)

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
No fee

Source: National Park Service API