Kanawha State Park

Kanawha State Park is a climbing area in West Virginia, set within Kanawha State Forest and managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. It is a bouldering destination with a small number of sport routes, and the climbing is centered on the boulder problems that make up the bulk of its 20 routes. The park's climbing is best measured in grades rather than distance. Of the 20 routes, 16 are boulders and 4 are sport climbs. The boulders range from V1-2 to V7+, with the hardest of them, Stout, at V7+. The sport routes sit in the 5.9 to 5.11c range. Several of the boulders have named first ascents, including Sassafras Tea by Corey Messer and Don't Slip on your Compressions by Andrew Easterling. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Charleston show May highs around 76°F and September highs around 80°F, with September also seeing the fewest wet days of the year. The park sits close to several short hikes. White Hollow Trail and Overlook Trail are each about 0.3 miles away, and Blazing Saddles Trail is about 0.6 miles off. Paddlers can reach the Big Coal River, about 6 miles away.