Description

🔴 A moderate clearance, AWD or better vehicle is recommended. A lower clearance vehicle can park about 100 yards uphill of the standard parking/river access.

🔴 The parking for this area is used by rafting companies for river access during Gauley season. Please do NOT go to this boulder on release days during Gauley season: this includes Friday through Monday starting the 2nd week of September through October. Gauley release schedule can be found here: https://www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/wm/?wwsched

🔴 This area is water level dependent. There is not a good landing spot for a raft (or similar) once the water is above about 3000 cfs. Check the water level here: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2379/main

Looking for a unique bouldering experience and difficult projects? The Canyon Doors boulders are two large, freestanding blocks that sit across the Gauley River from the parking. To get gear across, a raft, paddle board or similar is required! The boulders sit along a large, slow moving pool of water that is just below a class III rapid named Canyon Doors. The rapid gets its name from the discrete, colorful cliff faces that tower over the river above the rapid. Fortunately, the rapid ends and the slow moving water below is easily navigable to access these incredible roofs.

"Snawfus" V11 gets its name from the mythical albino deer-like creature that instead of traditional antlers has blooming tree branches. A deer skull was found under the boulder which inspired the name. Only one line so far has been climbed on this large block, with potential for 2 or 3 very hard variations and independent lines. The Really Big Roof also has a lot of potential, although this boulder is enormous and the roof quickly outreaches safe bouldering height, other than the two listed projects.

🚶‍♂️ Approach summary - Water access. A raft, kayak, canoe, paddle board or similar is needed to access this boulder. The boulders are riverside. Very short walks necessary once the river is crossed. Swimable in the summer when the water is warm.
💎 Notable problems - Snawfus V11. Multiple excellent, hard projects on these two boulders.
💧 Dry time - Hours to 1 day for Skull Cave, 2 to 3 days for the Really Big Roof.
🍂❄️🍃 Seasonal Beta - Please do NOT go during schedule releases for Gauley season in the fall, this includes Friday through Monday starting the second week of September through the end of October. Best fall to spring, it is warm on the river in the summer. See above for a link for the Gauley release schedule.
🌊 Water Level Beta - The water level should be 3000cfs or below to allow for a raft or similar to be easily pulled onto the river bank. See above for a link to check the water level.
🚗 Drive from downtown Fayetteville - 50 minutes
🚗 Drive from Summersville - 60 minutes
🚽 Bathrooms - There are no bathrooms at this area.
📶 Cell phone service - 1/5, fleeting.
🐶 Dogs - Must be leashed at all times. This is National River/Recreation land.

Routes on Canyon Doors Boulders
7 boulder
Browse topos
Photos
Premium topo by New River Gorge and Surrounding Areas
Aaron Schneider
A. Schneider
from Mount Lookout, West Virginia
Stella Mascari
S. Mascari
from New River Gorge
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Canyon Doors Boulders

The area is access sensitive!

🔴 A moderate clearance, AWD or better vehicle is recommended. A lower clearance vehicle can park about 100 yards uphill of the river access.

🔴 The parking for this area is used by rafting companies for river access during Gauley season. Please do NOT go to this boulder on release days during Gauley season: this includes Friday through Monday starting the 2nd week of September through October. Gauley release schedule can be found here: https://www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/wm/?wwsched

🔴 This area is water level dependent. There is not a good landing spot for a raft (or similar) once the water is above about 3000 cfs. Check the water level here: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2379/main

🚗 Driving directions:
From Fayetteville:
Follow US-19N. Take the exit on US-60/Midland Trail exit. Turn RIGHT off the exit and drive 1.1 miles then turn RIGHT onto Stringtown Rd. Drive 0.1 miles then turn LEFT onto Hawver Rd. Take Hawver Rd 2.6 miles then take the SECOND (2nd) RIGHT onto Saturday Rd. Drive 2.5 miles on Saturday road then turn LEFT onto Lucas Rd. After 1.0 miles Lucas stay RIGHT to continue on Lucas road as it turns into gravel. Drive 4.6 miles on gravel road, stay straight/left at the final intersection and drive a short ways down the hill to the river bank.

From Summersville:
Follow US-19S. Take the exit on US-60/Midland Trail exit. Turn RIGHT off the exit and drive 0.9 miles then turn RIGHT onto Stringtown Rd. Continue following the above directions.

🚶‍♂️Hiking Directions:
For the Skull Cave Boulder: This boulder is visible just upstream, across the river from the parking. Float across the river in a slightly upstream direction. The fastest current is about 1/3rd of the way off of river RIGHT (right side of the river when heading downstream, this is the far bank from the parking). Just past the fastest current is a good eddy to help prevent floating farther downstream. It is easiest to park your raft (or similar) just downstream of the boulder and scramble 50 feet over the riverside talus in an upstream direction.

For the Really Big Roof: Head downstream with your raft (or similar) from the parking. Just before entering the small rapid at the downstream end of the pool, there is a small boulder sitting just off the river RIGHT (right side of the river when heading downstream, this is the far bank from the parking). Pull just behind this boulder and into its eddy, parking the boat just behind. Walk the cut trail into the rhododendrons and uphill until reaching a clearing for an old road. Head left down the road until you reach the Really Big Roof. YOU NEED A RAFT TO GET TO THESE BOULDERS. You need to be able to paddle through moving water (not whitewater). There's some slippery talus and some elevation gain. Total walking time is 2 to 3 minutes.