Mayflower Boulder

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.