West Virginia · Rock climbing · Bowden

Bear Haven

Bear Haven in West Virginia has 10 climbing routes with 9 difficulty grades.

10 routes
V0 – V4+
Bouldering · Sport · Mixed

Is Bear Haven open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Cheat Ranger District. It doesn't name Bear Haven, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Cheat Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Bear Haven

Best months: September. 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

    34° / 18°

    21 wet

  2. Feb

    36° / 20°

    18 wet

  3. Mar

    44° / 27°

    18 wet

  4. Apr

    57° / 35°

    16 wet

  5. May

    64° / 46°

    17 wet

  6. Jun

    71° / 53°

    16 wet

  7. Jul

    74° / 56°

    16 wet

  8. Aug

    73° / 55°

    14 wet

  9. Sep

    68° / 49°

    11 wet

  10. Oct

    59° / 39°

    13 wet

  11. Nov

    47° / 30°

    15 wet

  12. Dec

    38° / 23°

    18 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Elkins 21 Ene, WV, 12.5 mi away at 3,390 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Bear Haven is a climbing area in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, within the Cheat Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits right next to Bear Heaven Campground, which lies about a tenth of a mile away. The climbing at Bear Haven is bouldering-focused, with six boulder problems and three sport routes among the 10 routes on record. Boulderers will find grades from V0 to V4+ and YDS equivalents from 5.4 to 5.9+. Sport climbers can reach routes rated up to about 5.9+. A few of the named boulder problems are It's All Ogre Now (V0), Bear Haven Hanger (V1-2) and Lucky Pierre (V4+), the hardest of the group. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. At a nearby weather station in Elkins, typical July highs average around 74°F with lows near 56°F, and September stays mild with highs in the upper 60s. Winter is cold, with typical January highs around 34°F. Beyond the climbing, Hedrick Camp Trail and Shavers Mountain Trail both lie within a mile, and Stuart Recreation Area, about 5 miles away, offers another camping option.

Routes (10)

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