West Virginia · Rock climbing · Morgantown

Darkside East

Darkside East is a West Virginia climbing crag with 4 routes.

4 routes
V0-1 – V2-3
Bouldering

Best time to visit Darkside East

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.

  1. Jan

    38° / 22°

    14 wet · 4 snow

  2. Feb

    40° / 23°

    12 wet · 2 snow

  3. Mar

    51° / 29°

    13 wet · 1 snow

  4. Apr

    64° / 39°

    13 wet

  5. May

    74° / 50°

    14 wet

  6. Jun

    82° / 58°

    12 wet

  7. Jul

    85° / 63°

    12 wet

  8. Aug

    83° / 61°

    10 wet

  9. Sep

    76° / 54°

    9 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 43°

    11 wet

  11. Nov

    51° / 33°

    12 wet

  12. Dec

    42° / 27°

    13 wet · 2 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Lynn, WV, 3.6 mi away at 900 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Darkside East is a bouldering area in Coopers Rock State Forest in West Virginia, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. It sits among a cluster of other climbing areas, including Waiting Room/Campfire, Micro Bus Boulder and John Boulder, all within about a tenth of a mile. The climbing here is all bouldering, with four routes spread across the V0-1 to V2-3 range. The Warm Up Slab (right) is the easiest at V0-1, and the Warm Up Slab (center) is the hardest at V2-3. The Dozer Damaged route is at V2. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Lake Lynn weather station run to highs around 74°F in May and 76°F in September, with fewer wet days in September than in most other months. That station sits about 650 feet lower than the boulders, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. Hikers can pair a session on the boulders with a walk on Johnson Hollow Trail, about 1.6 miles away, or Ken's Run Trail, about 1.9 miles away.

Routes (4)