West Virginia · Rock climbing · Mount Lookout

First Buttress

First Buttress in West Virginia has 19 climbing routes across 11 grades, offering sport and trad options.

19 routes
5.10a – 5.13b
Sport · Trad

Is First Buttress open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Gauley River National Recreation Area.

As of · Source: NPS · Gauley River National Recreation Area. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit First Buttress

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

    41° / 21°

  2. Feb

    44° / 23°

  3. Mar

    52° / 29°

  4. Apr

    65° / 38°

  5. May

    72° / 48°

  6. Jun

    78° / 57°

  7. Jul

    81° / 61°

  8. Aug

    80° / 59°

  9. Sep

    75° / 53°

  10. Oct

    65° / 41°

  11. Nov

    54° / 32°

  12. Dec

    45° / 26°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Summersville Lake, WV, 5.5 mi away at 1,768 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

First Buttress is a climbing area in West Virginia's Gauley River National Recreation Area, managed by the National Park Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Zero Buttress and Shaved Box Canyon each about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here runs from sport routes to a few trad options, with grades ranging from 5.10a to 5.13b. Of the 19 routes listed, the median grade is 5.12b, and the hardest is Typical Situation at 5.13b. Sport climbers will find Cross Eyed and Blind at 5.11a and Corner Pocket at 5.13a, while trad climbers can try Ben Dunne at 5.10a or Black Crack at 5.12c. Summer is the warmest stretch for a visit, with typical July highs around 81°F and lows near 61°F at the nearby Summersville Lake weather station. Early fall is milder, with typical September highs around 75°F and lows near 53°F.

Routes (19)

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