West Virginia · Rock climbing · Franklin

Parking Area Wall

Parking Area Wall in West Virginia has 7 sport climbing routes.

7 routes

5.9 – 5.11a

Sport

Best time to visit Parking Area Wall

Best months: April–November. 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.

Jan
43° / 22°
8 wet
Feb
47° / 23°
7 wet
Mar
55° / 30°
10 wet
Apr
67° / 38°
11 wet
May
74° / 48°
12 wet
Jun
81° / 55°
10 wet
Jul
84° / 59°
10 wet
Aug
83° / 58°
10 wet
Sep
77° / 51°
8 wet
Oct
68° / 41°
7 wet
Nov
56° / 32°
8 wet
Dec
46° / 25°
9 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Franklin 2 Ne, WV, 1.1 mi away at 1,900 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Parking Area Wall is a climbing area in West Virginia, about 1.5 miles from the town of Franklin. It sits among a cluster of other climbing areas, with Riverbend and Contact Zone each about 0.1 mile away and Impact Zone about 0.2 mile away, so it works well as a base for exploring the surrounding crags. The area has seven sport routes, with grades ranging from 5.9 to 5.11a. The easiest are Lunar Debris and Wild, Wild West, both 5.9, and the hardest is Limestoned at 5.11a. The median grade is 5.10a. The routes are all sport, so they are bolted and suited to climbers who prefer that style. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Franklin show May highs around 74°F and September highs around 77°F, with July the warmest month at about 84°F. Beyond the climbing, the North Fork Mountain Trail is about 8 miles away, and Brandywine Campground is about 8.3 miles away. Paddlers can reach the North Fork South Branch Potomac River, about 8.8 miles off.