Adirondack Rock Climbing

Spend your day cliffside

Lake Placid is home to the High Peaks and some of the best rock climbing in the Adirondacks. From the biggest wilderness cliff in the East to secluded wilderness walls and backcountry crags, Lake Placid’s High Peaks region offers a variety of challenges for climbers of all ability levels.

Explore and experience some of the country's finest traditional rock climbing in the Adirondacks, summer mountaineering, and remote backcountry cragging. Here, you can pick a convenient roadside climb, travel along scenic hiking trails into the wilderness for an afternoon adventure, or set out on a multi-day excursion to explore multi-pitch faces.

Where to go rock climbing

Climb Wallface, the East's premier wilderness cliff, tackle massive granite walls, conquer difficult splitter cracks, and scale demanding lake cliffs – all among incredible views of New York's highest mountains.

Popular Adirondack rock climbing routes include:

Henderson Cliff
Avalanche Pass
Gothics
Noonmark
Rooster Comb

In the Keene Valley area, check out:

Chapel Pond Slab
The Beer Walls
Upper and Lower Washbowl
Creature Wall
Spanky's Wall
The Spider's Web

On belay

If you're new to climbing, or simply new to the area, consider booking a trip with a licensed Adirondack guide ‑ they offer professional instruction, guided rock climbing trips and hold the area's best kept secrets. Area gear shops have all the equipment and information you need for that perfect climb.

Updated route closures, due to peregrine falcon nesting sites, are posted on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation site at: dec.ny.gov.

Belay on

Start and end your climb with a good night sleep and a delicious meal. Lake Placid has a variety of lodging and dining options to fit your tastes as well as your budget.

Leave No Trace and Love Your ADK

The magic of the Adirondacks is the result of previous generations taking a long view and protecting the mountains, lakes, and rivers within the Blue Line. That tradition continues today as we support and encourage everyone to practice Leave No Trace ethics, which help protect the lands and waters of the Adirondacks.