Big Run Cliffs

This is a climbable cliff on the north side of Big Run a few minutes’ hike from the intersection of the Rocky Mountain Run and Big Run Portal Trails. I discovered it by sticking to that side of the stream in an attempt to avoid the second and third fords of Big Run upstream from the bridged crossing near the Brown Mountain Trail (the water was pretty deep, and I wasn’t in waterproof boots, either). The climbing looks great, but the rock is rotten, breaking and pulling out easily. I wanted to climb straight up, but due to the bad rock quality, I ended up having to avoid the Class 5 moves and instead ended up angling right and up on safer terrain, which involved mostly Class 3 but some Class 4 moves. The descent is a walk-off to the right. Shenandoah National Park, VA