West Virginia · Rock climbing · Sharpsburg

Pillar 2 (Shepherdstown Pillar)

Pillar 2 (Shepherdstown Pillar) is a West Virginia climbing crag with 2 routes.

2 routes
5.7 – 5.10b
Trad

Best time to visit Pillar 2 (Shepherdstown Pillar)

Best months: April–June and August–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.

  1. Jan

    41° / 21°

  2. Feb

    44° / 23°

  3. Mar

    53° / 29°

  4. Apr

    65° / 39°

  5. May

    74° / 49°

  6. Jun

    82° / 58°

  7. Jul

    86° / 62°

  8. Aug

    85° / 61°

  9. Sep

    78° / 54°

  10. Oct

    67° / 42°

  11. Nov

    56° / 32°

  12. Dec

    45° / 25°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sharpsburg 5 S, MD, 4.8 mi away at 400 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Pillar 2, also known as Shepherdstown Pillar, is a climbing area in West Virginia, about half a mile from the town of Shepherdstown. It sits right next to Shepherdstown Crag, another climbing area, and the two make an easy pairing for a day of rock. The pillar itself is a single objective, and the climbing here is all trad. Two routes are listed: An Unnatural High at 5.7 and Courage Stands Alone at 5.10b, the latter a first ascent by Indy Kotche. Both are traditional climbs, and the grade range from 5.7 to 5.10b gives climbers a range of options from moderate to more challenging. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Sharpsburg, Maryland, run to highs around 74°F in May and 78°F in September, with July peaking near 86°F. Beyond the crag, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail and Hawkins-FA Connect are both about 3 miles away. Harper's Ferry, roughly 8 miles off, offers more climbing at Skink Rock.

Routes (2)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Maryland Heights, MDPhoto: mkfeeney, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Maryland Heights, MD

~15 min drive

Maryland Heights in West Virginia has 8 trad climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

Sign WallPhoto: Ananda La Vita, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Sign Wall

~15 min drive

Sign Wall in West Virginia has 11 routes across 9 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

ABC RampsPhoto: mkfeeney, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

ABC Ramps

~15 min drive

ABC Ramps in West Virginia has 8 routes across 7 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Train Tunnel WallPhoto: mkfeeney, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Train Tunnel Wall

~15 min drive

Train Tunnel Wall in West Virginia has 7 climbing routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad options.

HighlandsPhoto: HarpersFerryNPS, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Highlands

~15 min drive

Highlands in Maryland has 46 climbing routes across 15 grades, featuring bouldering pads and top-rope.

Underground RailroadPhoto: Ananda La Vita, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Underground Railroad

~15 min drive

Underground Railroad in West Virginia has 7 climbing routes on 6 difficulty grades.

The TiersPhoto: Ananda La Vita, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

The Tiers

~15 min drive

Tiers, The in West Virginia has 56 climbing routes.

Washington WallPhoto: dionhinchcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Washington Wall

~35 min drive

Washington Wall is a West Virginia climbing crag with 9 mixed and sport routes across 9 grades.

Main WallPhoto: dionhinchcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Main Wall

~35 min drive

Main Wall in West Virginia has 8 mixed, sport, and trad routes across 8 difficulty grades.

Right SectorPhoto: Mark Fickett, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Right Sector

~35 min drive

Right Sector in West Virginia has 9 routes across 6 grades, offering mixed and sport climbing.