West Virginia · Rock climbing · Seneca Rocks

South Peak West Face (Main Area)

South Peak West Face (Main Area) in West Virginia has 83 routes.

83 routes
5.2 – 5.12b
Trad · Sport · Mixed

Is South Peak West Face (Main Area) open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Monongahela National Forest. It doesn't name South Peak West Face (Main Area), so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Monongahela National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit South Peak West Face (Main Area)

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.

  1. Jan

    43° / 22°

    8 wet

  2. Feb

    47° / 23°

    7 wet

  3. Mar

    55° / 30°

    10 wet

  4. Apr

    67° / 38°

    11 wet

  5. May

    74° / 48°

    12 wet

  6. Jun

    81° / 55°

    10 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 59°

    10 wet

  8. Aug

    83° / 58°

    10 wet

  9. Sep

    77° / 51°

    8 wet

  10. Oct

    68° / 41°

    7 wet

  11. Nov

    56° / 32°

    8 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 25°

    9 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Franklin 2 Ne, WV, 11.4 mi away at 1,900 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

South Peak West Face (Main Area) is a climbing area in the Potomac Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing areas, with Southwest Corner and Lower Broadway each about 0.1 mile away. The area holds 83 routes, mostly traditional (79) with a few sport (3) and one mixed. Grades run from 5.2 to 5.12b, with the median at 5.8. Among the named routes are Old Ladies Route at 5.2, Breakneck at 5.6, and The Viper at 5.12b, the hardest listed. For timing, September is typically the most comfortable month, with highs around 77°F and lows near 51°F, based on typical averages from a nearby weather station. July is the warmest, with highs around 84°F. The Pipeline Trail and Seneca Rocks Trail are both within a third of a mile. Seneca Shadows campground is about 1.4 miles away, and Seneca Creek offers canoeing about 4 miles off.

Routes (83)

Pleasant Overhangs - Variation: Nowhere to RunFA: Howard Doyle / Matt Hale5.10Cast of ThousandsFA: Bill Webster, Jay Hutchinson5.10aCasual In The Mind's EyeFA: Prothro & Doyle, late 1970s/Weinmann & Baumgartner OCT 20115.10aMarshall's Madness - Crack of DawnFA: Marshall's Madness: Marshall, Christian, & Kauffman - 1955Crack of Dawn: McLaughlin & Janoscrat - 19805.10aBlackbirdFA: D.Brothers, S Pettit - 4/6/125.10a/bAgonyFA: Hale & Lyon - 19685.10bAgony Til Dawn5.10bBefore the FallFA: John Kelbel & Dan Caston, August 19955.10bBreakneck DirectFA: unknown / FFA: Jeff Burns (1974)5.10bCottonmouth - VenomFA: Cottonmouth: Hale & Evans - 1969Venom: Prothro, Laeger, Rollins - 19755.10bPast & PleasantFA: Tom Cecil, Troy Phillips, Kevin Twitchell5.10b/cPedro's ProblemFA: Howard Doyle, Lori Larson5.10cRight to the Left (A Thought Forgotten )FA: Jesse and Kristin Morehouse5.10cKosher Critter5.10dManual DexterityFA: John Bercaw, Greg Hand5.10dMongooseFA: Eddie Begoon and Pete Absolon5.10dThe SorcererFA: Tom Cecil, Chris Clark, 19925.11-SidewinderFA: Doyle & Janoscrat5.11aHit the SilkFA: Rob Robinson, Robyn Erbesfield, 19845.11bBlack MambaFA: Eddie Begoon 19925.12aBurning TendonsFA: Mike Cote & Mike Artz, 19865.12aBanana PeelsFA: Pete Absolon, Greg Smith5.12bThe ViperFA: Pete Absolon, Topper Wilson, 19865.12bOld Ladies Route5.2Old Man's Route5.2Caught My EyeFA: Diane Kearns, Andy Weinmann - 20195.4Cockscomb Pine Tree5.4Cockscomb Pine Tree - Variation: Cockscomb OverhangFA: Paul Bradt / Sam Moore / Don Hubbard (1939)5.4Conn's WestFA: N.C. Hartz, Henry Schulter, Earl Richardson (1944)5.4Gunsight to South PeakFA: Paul Bradt, Don Hubbard, Sam Moore5.4Gunsight to South Peak DirectFA: Chris Scordoes and party5.4Humphrey's Head5.4Le GourmetFA: Larry Griffin 19655.4The GendarmeFA: Paul Bradt/Sam Moore/Don Hubbard - 19405.4Conn's West DirectFA: arnold wexler5.5Easy OverFA: Chris Scheck, Mark Reid 19755.5Jankowitz-KammFA: Jankowitz, Kamm5.5Le Gourmet - Variation: Easy OverFA: Chris Schenk / Mark Reid (1975)5.5Thais - Variation Thais EscapeFA: John Christian / Jim Shipley (1956)5.5Breakneck5.6Critter Crack5.6Debbie5.6Front C5.6HeartburnFA: Thais Weibel / George Livingstone (1967)5.6Thais5.6Banana5.7By PassFA: John Markwell / John Christian / Arnold Wexler (1972)5.7Conn's West Corner Start5.7Crispy CritterFA: Gary Aiken, Charlie Fowler5.7Green Wall5.7Le Gourmet Direct5.7Neck Press5.7Pleasant Overhangs5.7PruneFA: John Christian and Arnold Wexler in 19715.7Seneca DazeFA: Tom Cecil & Jerod5.7So WhatFA: Michael Ashe, Jeffrey Hallock 19825.7Thais Direct5.7Traffic Jam5.7+West Pole5.7+Gendarme DirectFA: Gordon Graham - 19745.8LoxFA: Howard Doyle, Lori Larson5.8Pleasant ExposureFA: Tori and Stephen Hyndman, June 20195.8Scrambled LeggsFA: Eric Janoscrat / Jim LaRue / Susan Sands (1979)5.8TomatoFA: Tom Evans, Matt Hale 19695.8Triple S - Variation: Direct FinishFA: Chips Janger / Matt Hale (1968)5.8West Pole Direct FinishFA: Joe Ebner, Dennis Grabnegger, and John Markwell (from Barnes, 2nd ed)5.8NOVAFA: Chris Kulczycki, 1978 (free solo)5.8+The BiteFA: Chris Rowins / Chris Kulczcke (1979)5.8+Triple S5.8+Back to the FrontFA: Dan Miller5.9Clarke's ClimbFA: Clarke, D. Kepler 19725.9Cockscomb Overhang DirectFA: Mike Nicholson (1967)5.9Marshall's MadnessFA: Tom Marshall, John Christian 19555.9Monkey See Monkey DoFA: R. D. Smith, Paul Fomalot5.9Pleasant Overhangs - Variation: Direct FinishFA: Eric Janoscrat / Jim Lucas (1977)5.9Pleasant Overhangs - Variation: Direct StartFA: Tom Evans (1966), FFA: unknown5.9Pleasant SurpriseFA: Tom Cecil, Troy Phillips, Kevin Twitchell5.9The Gendarme South FaceFA: Mike Schmitt5.9A Better WayFA: Howard Doyle / Mike Whitman (1980)5.9-Crusher CritterFA: Greg Collins, Hernado Vera5.9-Arrested Mental Development 'AMD'FA: 5/15/885.9+Bring on the NubilesFA: Vera & Stephens5.9+CockfightFA: Tom Cecil & Justin Day5.9+

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