Franklin Gorge or just ''Franklin'' or ''Cranklin Gorge''
is a small
sport climbing
Sport climbing (or Bolted climbing) is a form of rock climbing that relies on permanent anchors (or bolts), permanently fixed into the rock for climber protection, in which a rope that is attached to the climber is clipped into the anchors to ...
area near
Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area
Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area is a national recreation area in the Monongahela National Forest of eastern West Virginia.
The national recreation area protects three prominent West Virginia landmarks:
* Spruce Knob, the highe ...
located near
Franklin, WV. This
rock climbing
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically and ...
spot was first discovered and developed by
John Burcham and friends during the early-mid 90s. The site contains mostly sport and
top rope
Top rope climbing (or top roping) is a style in climbing in which the climber is securely attached to a rope which then passes up, through an anchor system at the top of the climb, and down to a belayer at the foot of the climb. The belayer takes ...
climbing as well as some
traditional climbing
Traditional climbing (or Trad climbing) is a style of rock climbing in which the climber places all the necessary protection gear required to arrest any falls as they are climbing, and then removes it when the pitch is complete (often done ...
, and is located on private land. The rock is layered sandstone and some limestone which create horizontals, and the site has pockets and huecos for the majority of the holds. This site is the first place many Mid-Atlantic climbers cut their teeth on bolted rock climbing routes before going on to challenge the
New River Gorge.
Guidebooks
Online topos circulated since the 1990s
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References
External links
Detailed RoutesFlickr PhotosYoutube VideosMid Atlantic Climbers
a local non-profit organization that seeks to maintain access to climbing areas
Canyons and gorges of West Virginia
Climbing areas of the United States
Landforms of Pendleton County, West Virginia
Tourist attractions in Pendleton County, West Virginia
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