3) The Brain
3) The Brain in West Virginia has 16 climbing routes across 10 grades, offering sport and trad options.
- 16 routes
- 5.7 – 5.14a
- Sport · Trad
Best time to visit 3) The Brain
Best months: June–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.
Jan
41° / 23°
15 wet
Feb
44° / 25°
13 wet
Mar
52° / 31°
14 wet
Apr
64° / 41°
14 wet
May
72° / 50°
14 wet
Jun
79° / 58°
12 wet
Jul
81° / 61°
12 wet
Aug
81° / 60°
11 wet
Sep
75° / 54°
9 wet
Oct
65° / 42°
10 wet
Nov
54° / 33°
11 wet
Dec
45° / 27°
14 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Oak Hill, WV, 8.6 mi away at 2,040 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Brain is a climbing area on private land in West Virginia, set among a cluster of other climbing spots that sit about 0.1 mile away. It is a compact, high-grade destination with sport and trad routes ranging from 5.7 to 5.14a, and it pairs easily with the surrounding boulders and trails. The area's routes are a mix of sport and trad, with sport routes making up the majority. The hardest is Super Whiny Bugs at 5.14a, and the easiest is Brain Wave at 5.7. Among the sport routes, You Want It, You Got It (5.9) and Brain Tweezers (5.10c) are both from the 1990s, and Climax Control (5.13b) is a more recent addition. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from the nearby Oak Hill weather station show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 75°F, with September also seeing the fewest wet days of the year. The Headhouse Trail and Tipple Trail are both within half a mile, and the 5) Burning Buttress climbing area is right next door. Paddlers can find Manns Creek about 6 miles away.
Routes (16)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: tr.robinson, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)R) The Cirque
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R) The Cirque in West Virginia has 27 climbing routes across 16 difficulty grades.
Photo: tr.robinson, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)P) Jacob's Ladder Area
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Jacob's Ladder Area in West Virginia has 9 climbing routes with sport and trad options.
Photo: Ryan Stavely, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)South Nuttall
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South Nuttall in West Virginia has 18 climbing routes across 11 grades, offering sport and trad options.
Photo: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)I) Honeymooner's Area
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I) Honeymooner's Area in West Virginia has 30 climbing routes across 17 grades.
Photo: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)G) Diamond Point
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G) Diamond Point in West Virginia has 19 climbing routes with 13 difficulty grades.
Photo: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)F) Flash Point Area
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F) Flash Point Area in West Virginia has 8 routes with 7 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
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14-route climbing crag in West Virginia with sport and trad options.
[Redacted]
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Redacted in West Virginia has 5 climbing routes across 4 grades.
Gymnastic Fantastic Boulder
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Gymnastic Fantastic Boulder is a bouldering crag in West Virginia with 6 routes.
Beauty Mountain
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4-route climbing crag in West Virginia with sport and trad options.
