West Virginia · Rock climbing · Morgantown

Furnace Area Boulders

Natural bouldering area in West Virginia with problems for multiple skill levels.

2 routes
V1
Bouldering

Best time to visit Furnace Area Boulders

Best months: July–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

    40° / 24°

    15 wet

  2. Feb

    44° / 26°

    13 wet

  3. Mar

    53° / 33°

    14 wet

  4. Apr

    65° / 42°

    14 wet

  5. May

    74° / 52°

    15 wet

  6. Jun

    81° / 60°

    13 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 64°

    12 wet

  8. Aug

    83° / 63°

    11 wet

  9. Sep

    77° / 56°

    10 wet

  10. Oct

    66° / 45°

    12 wet

  11. Nov

    54° / 36°

    12 wet

  12. Dec

    44° / 29°

    14 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Morgantown Hart Fld, WV, 5 mi away at 1,240 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Furnace Area Boulders 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 climbing spots, with The Grunge Boulder, the Kurt Cobain Memorial Wall and Pig Iron Boulder all about 0.1 mile away. The boulders here are small in number, with two routes listed: Bean's Problem and Garbage, both rated V1 on the V scale. That makes this a compact stop for climbers looking to try a couple of boulders close together. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Morgantown run to highs around 74°F in May and 77°F in September, with July the warmest month at about 84°F. That station sits roughly 500 feet lower than the boulders, so temperatures on the rock may run a little cooler. Hikers can pair a session on the boulders with the Clay Furnace Trail or the Rhododendron Trail, both about 0.3 mile away.

Routes (2)