Nelson Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nelson Rocks |
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 Location in West Virginia
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| Location | Pendleton County, West Virginia |
| Nearest city | Circleville, West Virginia |
| Range | Allegheny Mountains |
| Coordinates | 38°41′46.92″N 79°27′52.41″W / 38.6963667°N 79.4645583°W |
| Climbing type | Traditional and Sport Climbing crag |
| Height | 800 feet above stream level |
| Pitches | Single and Multi-pitch (The Millennium Route is 9 pitches) |
| Ratings | 5.2-5.12+ |
| Grades | 1-2 |
| Rock type | Tuscarora quartzite |
| Quantity of rock | Over 200 routes |
| Development | Mostly developed |
| Cliff aspect | East and West facing |
| Season | Spring through Fall |
| Elevation | 3120 |
| Ownership | Private |
| Access | Closed to unguided climbing Guided climbing by reservation only. |
| Camping | Camping by reservation |
| Classic climbs |
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Nelson Rocks is a huge rock formation in Pendleton County, West Virginia, United States. It is privately owned and offers many outdoor adventures. The area is known as NROCKS Outdoor Adventures. It used to be called the Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center.
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Exploring Nelson Rocks
Nelson Rocks is part of a group of tall, thin rock ridges. These ridges are sometimes called "fins" because of their shape. Other famous fins nearby include Seneca Rocks. Nelson Rocks sits between the North Fork Valley and the Germany Valley.
This amazing place is close to Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia. It is also surrounded by the Monongahela National Forest. The site has two parallel rock fins made of strong sandstone. These fins rise high above Nelson Gap.
A cool feature is a hanging bridge that connects the two rock fins. It is 150 feet long and hangs 200 feet above the ground!
Fun Activities at Nelson Rocks
Visitors can try many exciting activities here. These include rock climbing and Via Ferrata climbing. A Via Ferrata is a climbing path with fixed cables and ladders. You can also go hiking on trails.
Another popular activity is a canopy tour. This tour has 12 zip-lines and other fun challenges. If you want to stay overnight, Nelson Rocks offers different places to stay. You can choose from hotel-style rooms, rustic cabins, or tent camping.
The History of Nelson Rocks
People have been climbing at Nelson Rocks for a long time. It was not always open to everyone. In the 1940s, during World War II, the United States Army used these rocks. Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division trained here. They practiced climbing for battles in Italy.
Opening to the Public
In 1998, Stuart Hammett bought the area. He opened it as the Nelson Rocks Preserve. This made it officially open for rock climbing. Many new climbing routes were created. By 2001, there were about 100 routes. Guidebooks like Rock Climbing: Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland featured Nelson Rocks.
Over the next ten years, the number of climbing routes grew to about 200. The exciting Via Ferrata was also built during this time. This included the long suspension bridge.
New Ownership and Adventures
In 2009, John Hall bought Nelson Rocks. He owned a company called Camp Horizons. He reopened the area as the Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center. New buildings were added, and more zip-lines were built. The North Fork Valley Canopy Tour was finished in 2011.
Today, you can only climb at Nelson Rocks with a guide. You need to make a reservation with the property owner.
Gallery
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Via Ferrata at Nelson
