Virginia · Rock climbing · Salem · Near Buchanan

The Slab

8 routes
V0 – V5
Bouldering
Mar–Apr, Aug–Nov
best months

The Slab is a bouldering area in Virginia's National Park Service land, set within the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The National Park Service manages the land, and there is no fee to climb here. The area is all bouldering, with eight routes covering a range from V0 to V5. Several of the names stand out: Iron Fist and O Face are both V0, Donkey Punch is V5, and Angry Dragon sits at V4. The closest neighbors are Middle Dragon and Mayflower Boulder, both about 0.1 mile away. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Roanoke run to highs around 76°F in May and 79°F in September, and the station sits roughly 800 feet lower than the Slab, so temperatures on the slab run cooler. McAfee's Knob Trail and the Catawba Greenway Trail are both within half a mile, and Straight Branch Iron Mountain Shelter is about 5 miles off for anyone wanting to camp.

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 The Slab

    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 (8)

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
No fee

Source: National Park Service API