Climbing
The locals have worked hard to build a scene in the middle of this urban jungle.
Climber Sasha DiGiulian has always loved visiting New York City to practice her craft. Even after she became a professional climber, scaling walls in places like Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, and 'Magic Mushroom' on the North Face of Switzerland, she relocated to the Big Apple.
Although it may seem strange for the host of "No Days Off" to have once lived in a metropolis like NYC, she felt the city’s many indoor rock climbing gyms made it the perfect place to train and complete her degree at Columbia University.
Skeptics might be surprised to learn there are also top tier rock climbing options outdoors in New York City. While not all types of climbing are available, there are several good options for bouldering in Central Park.
In this guide, we will tell you where to go inside Central Park to test your bouldering abilities. Be forewarned, you’ll have a huge audience, as an estimated 42 million people visit Central Park every year!
Preparation for Bouldering
Central Park is an 843-acre urban park located inside Manhattan, one of the five boroughs of New York City. Emerging from the chaos of the city, first-time visitors might be surprised to find wildlife, ponds, streams, cherry blossoms, a zoo, and even some rocks for bouldering—right in the center of one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
There are actually 181 established bouldering routes in Central Park, most of which are found at three locations. It's best to boulder in the park on a warm, dry day. Some of the rocks are a little worn and can get slippier, so chalk is also encouraged.
Keep in mind, the park is closed from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. every day of the year. But for safety reasons, it’s generally considered a good idea to leave the park before it gets dark.
- What to Bring: chalk/chalk bag, crash pad, climbing shoes, water
Top Boulder Spots in Central Park
01
Rat Rock
Rat Rock is located in the southwest section of Central Park. There are 47 established routes, most of which are on the North and East faces of the rock. This area is generally considered the most popular bouldering option in the city, so it could be busy when you arrive and your hand holds may feel a little worn. Bouldering problems range from beginner V2 and V3s to a duo of V10 and V11s for experts.
- Location: Close to 62nd street and Seventh Avenue, through the Columbus Circle entrance to the park.
- Fun Fact: The rock is still sometimes referred to as Umpire Rock, which is its original nickname that was given due to its location. The rock is next to the first playground ever built in Central Park, and the meadow near the rock is a hotspot where children used to frequently play baseball.
02
Worthless Boulder
Ignore what the name implies: Worthless Boulder offers 37 climbs at the northern end of Central Park, close to neighborhoods like Harlem and Morningside Heights, making it anything but worthless to climbers. Because it’s further from the buzz of Lower Manhattan, this is also the place to climb if you’re looking for a little solitude (just remember, it’s NYC, so the phrase “peace and quiet” is relative). The experience of mindfully working your way up the rock as cars on W 110th street whizz by is sure to be a novel one.
- Location: The northern end of Central Park park; west of Harlem Meer tucked right along W 110th Street.
- Fun Fact: Climbing used to be illegal on Worthless Boulder, as well as every other large rock in the park. Visitors would actually be ticketed by authorities when spotted. Local climbers worked with the city officials, who in an effort to make climbing in the park more safe, later installed wood chips at the base of most of the large rocks in Central Park.
03
Cat Rock
Visitors and natives alike might be surprised when they see how tall Cat Rock is. The structure boasting the accolade of tallest climb in NYC has three aptly-named climbing sections: Cat Crack, Cat Arete, and Scratching Post. The rock faces south and gets tons of sunshine (at least on days when clouds haven’t swallowed up the city). You’ll definitely want to climb here with a crash pad, as some spots can be a little dangerous if you fall. There are two V10 routes, so experienced climbers even have a route to challenge themselves on. At the top, climbers will enjoy a gorgeous overlook of walkways and the Manhattan Skyline.
- Location: North of the Wollman skating rink in the southeast corner of the park.
- Fun Fact: Cat Rock’s name comes from the feral cats that used to dwell in the area before it was developed. In fact, one man would come daily to feed the cats, which of course attracted even more stray felines to the area. Dozens of cats lived near the rock or in the shady brush nearby that has since been cleared away.
Conclusion
When you think of unknown climbing spots in the U.S., you probably don’t think of a park in the middle of a metropolis. And true, there’s no shortage of options when you visit New York City. You can go to a show, visit a museum, or check out awesome outdoor music venues like Central Park’s SummerStage.