West Virginia · Rock climbing · Edmond

A) Fern Point

20-route climbing area in West Virginia with sport and trad options.

20 routes
5.7 – 5.13a
Sport · Trad

Is A) Fern Point open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

As of · Source: NPS · New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit A) Fern Point

Best months: April–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

    42° / 23°

  2. Feb

    46° / 25°

  3. Mar

    55° / 31°

  4. Apr

    68° / 40°

  5. May

    75° / 49°

  6. Jun

    81° / 58°

  7. Jul

    84° / 62°

  8. Aug

    83° / 61°

  9. Sep

    78° / 54°

  10. Oct

    68° / 43°

  11. Nov

    56° / 33°

  12. Dec

    46° / 27°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Anstead Hawks Nest Sp, WV, 5.4 mi away at 1,296 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Fern Point is a climbing area in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia, managed by the National Park Service. It sits in the park's network of climbing spots, with several other areas within a short distance, including Party Buttress and Idol Point, both about 0.1 mile away, and Kaymoor Slabs about 0.2 mile off. The Endless Wall Climbers' Access Trail also starts close by. The climbing here runs from about 5.7 to 5.13a, with sport routes and trad routes both well represented. Of the 20 routes, the sport ones include New Age Equippers at 5.11c and Eurobics at 5.13a, while the trad routes include The Prowesse at 5.9 and Seventh Sign at 5.7, a 1988 first ascent by Ellen Nichols and others. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 75°F and September highs near 78°F, with temperatures at the park's higher points running cooler than those figures.

Routes (20)

TerminusFA: Rick Thompson, Bob Rentka, Ron Kampas '895.10aLinear EncountersFA: Mike Artz, Andrew Barry 19855.11aMellifluousFA: Rick Thompson & Bob Value, Oct. 19855.11aNew Age EquippersFA: Rick Thompson led the First Ascent. It was followed by Ron Kampas, then Bob Rentka and finally Eric Horst5.11cThe WhetterboxFA: Mike Artz, Doug Reed. 19885.11dDead Painters' SocietyFA: Rick Thompson, Bob Rentka, Carl Samples, Eric Horst & Doug Reed, 19895.12aIs it Safe?FA: Rick Thompson, Bob Rentka, Carl Samples, Ron Kampas, Mark Van Cura 89'5.12aPositronFA: Eric Horst, Mark Guider5.12aThe Magnificent PudcassoFA: Rick Thompson, Eric Horst, Bob Rentka, 19895.12aThe RibbonFA: Phil Heller, Joseph Schwartz5.12aDangerous LiasonsFA: Rick Thompson, Eric Horst 89'5.12a/bDe-FunkedFA: Rick Thompson, Porter Jarrard, Mike Artz 88'5.12bLe FuturisteFA: Doug Reed & Rick Thompson5.12bThe ExqueetionFA: Carl Samples, Rick Thompson 19905.12bEurobicsFA: Thompson, Hörst, Rentka5.13aSeventh SignFA: Ellen Nichols, Bill Sullivan, Chris Holmes, Mike Hientz 19885.7George of the GorgeFA: John Burcham, Kelly Faust 19895.9Nasty GrooveFA: Bob Burgher, Phil Heller 19855.9The Flyin' HawaiianFA: Scott Garso, Rick Thompson 19865.9The ProwesseFA: Glenn Thomas, Rick Thompson, 19865.9

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