West Virginia · Rock climbing · Morgantown

Watch your back

Watch your back is a 7-route climbing area in West Virginia with bouldering pads.

7 routes
V0 – V5
Bouldering

Best time to visit Watch your back

Best months: June–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

    38° / 22°

    14 wet · 4 snow

  2. Feb

    40° / 23°

    12 wet · 2 snow

  3. Mar

    51° / 29°

    13 wet · 1 snow

  4. Apr

    64° / 39°

    13 wet

  5. May

    74° / 50°

    14 wet

  6. Jun

    82° / 58°

    12 wet

  7. Jul

    85° / 63°

    12 wet

  8. Aug

    83° / 61°

    10 wet

  9. Sep

    76° / 54°

    9 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 43°

    11 wet

  11. Nov

    51° / 33°

    12 wet

  12. Dec

    42° / 27°

    13 wet · 2 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Lynn, WV, 3.5 mi away at 900 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Watch your back 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 other climbing spots, including The High Court, Giant's Slab Boulder and John Boulder, all about 0.1 mile away. The area has seven bouldering routes, all rated from V0 to V5 on the V scale. The hardest is Watch your back at V5, and the easiest is Twinkle toes at V0. Zach Tanner first climbed most of the routes, and Bryant Noble first climbed Watch your back. September is the most comfortable time to visit, with typical highs around 76°F and lows near 54°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Lake Lynn. That station sits about 740 feet lower than the boulders, so temperatures on the rock run cooler.

Routes (7)