Virginia · Rock climbing · Salem · Near Buchanan

Roadside

RoadsidePhoto: Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
19 routes
V0-1 – V10
Bouldering
Mar–Apr, Aug–Nov
best months

Roadside is a bouldering area in Virginia, about a mile from the town of Catawba. It sits right next to McAfee's Knob Trail, and the surrounding area is packed with climbing and hiking within a short walk, so it's easy to pair a boulder session with a trail. The area holds 19 boulder problems, all rated from V0-1 up to V10. The most straightforward are Flake Problem (V0-1) and Maddie's Problem (V3), while Whitney, at V10, is the hardest. MiniRoadside Traverse is a bouldering route at V4-5. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 76°F and September highs around 79°F, though that station sits several hundred feet lower, so expect cooler temperatures up high. McAfee's Knob Trail starts just a tenth of a mile away, and the Catawba Greenway Trail is about 0.4 miles off. Farther afield, the Deer Trail mountain bike route is roughly 2.4 miles away, and Straight Branch Iron Mountain Shelter is about 5 miles away for an overnight stay.

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 Roadside

    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 (19)

Flake ProblemV0-1Counter PressureV1WhitneyFA: Jon GlassbergV10Roadside AreteV2Counter Pressure (Proper)V3Maddie’s ProblemFA: Maddie HollarV3Mini Roadside RightV3Mini RoadsideV4MiniRoadside TraverseV4-5Stupid Human TrickV4-5CenterlineV5FPNNAV5HypertensionFA: Aaron James ParlierV5-6Reverse TraverseV6MoneyshotFA: Ed LymanV7Money Shot (extended start)FA: Adam WalkerV7-8Brooklyn BridgeFA: Adam WalkerV8Dave's LineFA: David TuckerV8-9King's RoadV8-9