Virginia · Rock climbing · Etlan

Sunset Walls

Sunset WallsPhoto: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
4 routes
5.5 – 5.12a
Sport · Trad · Top Rope
Apr–Oct
best months

Is Sunset Walls open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shenandoah National Park. It doesn't name Sunset Walls, so check the source for the area it covers.

  • Active Closure

    Park closure 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.

Sunset Walls is a climbing area in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park, within the Shenandoah Wilderness. It is managed by the National Park Service, and a fee is charged for access. The area is a cluster of climbing spots set right next to one another. Eagle's Gift and Lower God's Area are each about 0.1 mile away, and Middle God's Area - Right is a similar distance off. That makes it easy to move between different routes without backtracking far. The climbing here runs from sport and trad to top rope. The four routes listed include The Streak at 5.5, the trad Upper Sunset Crack a.k.a. USC at 5.6, the top rope Cliche` at 5.8+, and The Charmed Life at 5.12a. The range from 5.5 to 5.12a means there is room for climbers of varying experience levels. For timing, the most comfortable months are typically July and August, when typical averages from a nearby weather station at Big Meadows run from a high of about 73°F to 75°F. Winter is cold, with typical January highs in the mid-30s. Close by, the Saddle Trail is about 0.2 mile away and the Ridge Trail about 1.1 mile off. Big Meadows Campground is roughly 7 miles away for an overnight stay.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Sunset Walls

    Best months: April–October. 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

      36° / 19°

    2. Feb

      38° / 22°

    3. Mar

      44° / 27°

    4. Apr

      57° / 37°

    5. May

      64° / 46°

    6. Jun

      70° / 54°

    7. Jul

      75° / 59°

    8. Aug

      73° / 58°

    9. Sep

      69° / 52°

    10. Oct

      58° / 42°

    11. Nov

      48° / 32°

    12. Dec

      39° / 24°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Meadows, VA, 7.1 mi away at 3,540 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (4)

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
Yes

Source: National Park Service API

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