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New Hampshire

Description

New Hampshire is the Granite State. The state motto is "Live Free or Die." Need more be said?

Overview of the regions Map modified from original in visitnh.gov/information/abo…

Actually though, the rock in this state comes in many forms, from the rounded boulders of *Pawtuckaway in the South to the clean fractured granite of *Cannon Cliff in the North. We even have a world class sport climbing area, though the cliffs at *Rumney are mostly schist. On the other side of the mountains, North Conway has its own scene and two of the best trad cliffs around. Cathedral and *Whitehorse Ledges are just minutes from town. All of this within a state that is small enough to fit into some of your National Parks out West.

Whether you consider yourself a hard core traditionalist or a sport climbing wunderkind, there is a wealth of climbing to be found in this small state. Plus, there's some die-hard Libertarian blood around here, so don't expect to pay any taxes. And fall around these parts can be pretty close to heaven.

New Hampshire's Regions

The Monadnock Region is home to fantastic rock and ice alike. Hewes Hill, Marlow Profile, Bear's Den, Fall Mountain, Keene RR Cut, the Cheese Cut. What's not to love?

The Merrimack Valley hosts one the best cliffs in the south... unfortunately there's restricted access due to it being at an air force site where they still find unexploded ordinance (Joe English Hill). I guess we've still got Rock Rimmon, ey? Jokes aside, *Pawtuckaway is the southern NH crown jewel - world class bouldering accompanied with great trad and ice climbing.

The Southeast / Seacoast part of the state also has a nice bouldering. The highest concentration can be found around Exeter. Don't miss Stonehouse Pond for some climbing and a swim.

The Lakes Region has undergone some major development in the New Durham Area, specifically at Longstack Precipice and Devil's Den by the Chinos Mountain Club. *Rumney is located within the Lakes Region map but is such a popular destination we've kept it on the main page.

The White Mountains region holds the majority of New Hampshire's climbing with a mix of sport, traditional, and outback alpine experiences. We've broken this region into subareas (prefixed with WM) based on pockets of climbing areas, frequently named after the notch or town they are near. A rough overview map of the White Mountain region is here The most popular areas (*Cannon Cliff, *Cathedral Ledge, and *Whitehorse Ledge) are currently listed on the main page.

The Great North Woods region has seen more activity recently with routes on North Bald Cap, Outlook and Mt Forist, although it may be better known for areas in the * NH Ice and Mixed section. This region still has less documentation than the White Mountains but there is certainly plenty to explore here.

Getting There

Despite its diminutive size, New Hampshire should be found on most maps of the U.S.

Manchester hosts a major regional airport and would be the airport of choice for areas in the western part of the state (Rumney, Cannon etc. about 1 1/4 hr drive).

Portland, Maine has a good airport, and is only about 1 1/4 - 1/2 hr drive to areas like Cathedral and Whitehorse in the eastern part of the state. [Take Maine Rt 22W to Rt 114N to Rt 25W to Rt 113N to Rt 302W in Fryeburg ME, then 302W into North Conway; do NOT take Rt 302 all the way, esp. in summer)

The Boston airport is less than a three hour drive from most points in the state.

Ethics

The climbing areas in New Hampshire display diverse ethics, though some common threads can be found. No chipping, drilling of holds, or modifying of existed routes. Beyond that, consider the local area's specific ethics. What's acceptable at Rumney might not be acceptable at Cathedral, for example. If you have any questions, ask a local, get a consensus (no small feat, to be sure), and think before you act.

For those needing to study the Forest Management Plan 2005, last revised 2009, there is the link. The most climber relevant sections are (section-page) climbing: 1-14, 1-15, 2-22, 2-23, 3-15, 3-77>78 wilderness:1-22, 3-9>18, 3-47

Vegetation

This is a picture of a boy being eaten by a tree on a winter ascent of Rock Rimmon... the trees get hungry...
New Hampshire has no shortage of vegetation growing on the rock. While climbers should try to be respectful of the local flora, sometimes it feels like we are fighting a losing battle with the mosses, bushes, and trees that continually try to engulf the rock. It's not uncommon to find that a cleaned route has returned to its original scruffy state after only a year of neglect. The remedy? Get out and climb the routes!

Peregrines

Please note that seasonal peregrine closures affect many cliffs in the state. Please check the information kiosks for more information. The closures are usually clearly marked.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The Old Man of the Mtns, Cannon Cliff - before the fall, now only seen on NH license plates and NH-State quarters
[Hide Photo] The Old Man of the Mtns, Cannon Cliff - before the fall, now only seen on NH license plates and NH-State quarters
Climbers atop The Eaglet as the milky way rises over the notch
[Hide Photo] Climbers atop The Eaglet as the milky way rises over the notch
Kayte Knower making the clip at the start of the crux bulge.
[Hide Photo] Kayte Knower making the clip at the start of the crux bulge.
Acworth
[Hide Photo] Acworth
Chistopher Denver, getting ready to crank a new route. photo was taken in 2005.
[Hide Photo] Chistopher Denver, getting ready to crank a new route. photo was taken in 2005.
Remember your first time in the mountains?<br>
<br>
Franconia Ridge, NH.
[Hide Photo] Remember your first time in the mountains? Franconia Ridge, NH.
Bondcliff (4,698 ft.) - Pemigewasset Wilderness<br>
[Hide Photo] Bondcliff (4,698 ft.) - Pemigewasset Wilderness
Bouldering in NH.
[Hide Photo] Bouldering in NH.
Cannon Mtn/Cliff and Mt. Lincoln
[Hide Photo] Cannon Mtn/Cliff and Mt. Lincoln
Stairs Mtn
[Hide Photo] Stairs Mtn
The Presidentials from South Twin Mountain
[Hide Photo] The Presidentials from South Twin Mountain
Sugar High (V7), Zealand Valley
[Hide Photo] Sugar High (V7), Zealand Valley

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Jay Knower
Plymouth, NH; Lander, WY
[Hide Comment] All of New Hampshire's ice and alpine climbs have been moved so that they can be found under a single heading. If you are looking for (or planning on adding to) the ice routes in the database, then click on "NH Ice and Alpine Climbing" above. Feb 1, 2008
john strand
southern colo
[Hide Comment] I do not climb in the area anymore since I live in southern colo now, but I would really like to contribute some routes and/or comments.
I have about 25 years climbing in NH as well as the rest of New England including about 50 F/A,s

Big question- most of my photos are slides, can these be scanned and put on the site ?\\

talk soon ,

john May 22, 2008
jason seaver
Estes Park, CO
[Hide Comment] Hi John, I'd love to see some of your photos on this site. It would be great to have some contributions / stories from your days around NE. I know your slides can be scanned but you need a slide scanner which might be expensive, I don't know. Maybe you know someone with one?

Anyone else have better advice?

Cheers, Jason May 27, 2008
jason seaver
Estes Park, CO
[Hide Comment] Nice..... Thanks Bob.

John, I'll look forward to seeing your photos and contributions.

I love that photo in Webster's guidebook of you on Unwanted Guests. I've rapped past those non-existent footholds, and have always wondered what the hell you were standing on in that photo.

Good luck, Jason May 27, 2008
john strand
southern colo
[Hide Comment] Please check for seasonal Peregrine closures throughout the state Jun 24, 2008
MattWallace
Meredith, NH
[Hide Comment] I have a question, I hiked Rattlesnake Mountain in Holderness NH this is the mountain that looks over Squam Lake, not the one in Rumney, while doing this I walked down infront of the slabs there and found three short sport routes four or five bolts a piece, does anybody know anyting about these routes, before I get on them? Also does anybody know Trad routes that are there.


Thank you for any help in advance. Jan 7, 2009
MattWallace
Meredith, NH
[Hide Comment] I am curious if anyone else thinks putting up indoor gyms on this site would be a good idea. I believe it would be because it would provided places for people to train and for people to go on bad outdoor days, also it will benefit the climbing community by developing newer climbers and it will benefit the gyms by bringing in new customers.

There would have to be regulations for this such as not posting routes it would just be a way to get the gyms more known and develop the climbing community.

What are your thoughts... Jan 13, 2009
Ladd Raine
Plymouth, NH
[Hide Comment] We already invented the wheel on that one.

?? Jan 14, 2009
Lee Hansche
Allenstown, NH... and a van…
[Hide Comment] jakob and i climbed cathedral, whitehorse, and cannon cliff within 17 hrs the other day (and night)... The idea was to do what we see as the 3 proudest cliffs in a day or so... now that we see how fun and easy it was taking the moderate routes we are thinking of doing some harder routes in the same style... here is a video of the adventure:
youtube.com/watch?v=d322L8D… Apr 30, 2009
Jay Knower
Plymouth, NH; Lander, WY
[Hide Comment] Nice video Lee. I especially like the Cannon footage. Wind blowing, getting lost. It really captures the Cannon experience. May 1, 2009
Peter Beal
Boulder Colorado
[Hide Comment] Agreed, though the Cathedral footage was a bit underexposed:) Thanks for posting it! May 1, 2009
MattWallace
Meredith, NH
[Hide Comment] Lee cool video looks like a fun way to spend 17hrs... May 1, 2009
Lee Hansche
Allenstown, NH... and a van…
[Hide Comment] Yeah peter i was bummed about how dark to night footage was... but it was an important part of the adventure... glad you liked it over all... May 1, 2009
Peter Beal
Boulder Colorado
[Hide Comment] Bombardment was my first 5.8 lead way way back and still stands as one of the great pitches of the grade in NH. May 2, 2009
MattWallace
Meredith, NH
[Hide Comment] I heard a rumor of a multipitch slab climb in Crawford Notch (Willey Slide area?). The description I recieved was three maybe four pitches of 5.6ish slab climbing anyone know anything about this? May 18, 2009
nhclimber
Newmarket, NH
[Hide Comment] TONS of climbing in Crawford notch. Mt Webster slabs has old and new routes some documented (bore tide, lost in the sun), some not. Mt willard has a ton of classics. Lots of slab climbing with a traditional bolting ethic. May 19, 2009
Adam Wilcox
Candia, NH
[Hide Comment] Yeah, Lost in the Sun (5.5) and Bore Tide (5.6). Each is 6-8 pitches or so. You park at the Willey Slide turn out, cross the river and wander up to the Slabs on Mt. Webster. You can find directions and a topo at NEClimbs.

I climbed Lost in the Sun in October '07 as my first decent multipitch trad climb. It was a good experience, and with more efficiency than I had at the time you could bag both routes in a day easily. All the belays are bolted and you'll only need a light rack. You will need two ropes to rap, as the routes don't top out. I'd reccomend going during a dry spell, lots of the protection bolts were under running water and I had to trailblaze on easy runout ground a little. May 19, 2009
nhclimber
Newmarket, NH
[Hide Comment] I was going to add some routes on sundown's outback cliff, but I didn't think that they really belong in the same section. It would be like lumping painted walls and rainbow slab together. Actually those cliffs are closer together than sundown main cliff and the outback cliff. Any thoughts? Jul 20, 2009
Jay Knower
Plymouth, NH; Lander, WY
[Hide Comment] I combined all of the crags off the Kanc into the Kancamagus Crags area. This includes Sundown, Woodchuck, Painted Walls, etc.

I also added Sundown's Outback Cliff under that area. Having never climbed there, I don't know much about it. Nhclimber, it would be great if you would add routes/info to that cliff. Aug 18, 2009
nhclimber
Newmarket, NH
[Hide Comment] I'll get some info up, thanks for adding it. Aug 18, 2009
Jay Knower
Plymouth, NH; Lander, WY
[Hide Comment] A Granite State of Mind: youtube.com/watch?v=bX7nQrC… Apr 2, 2010
Mike Robinson
Grand Junction, CO
[Hide Comment] Please help me with the name aof the boulder at the rest stop off of 93 south between exit 20 and exit 18 Jun 22, 2010
Jay Knower
Plymouth, NH; Lander, WY
[Hide Comment] Mike, I'm not sure of the name. It looks cool, though. Jun 23, 2010
Lee Hansche
Allenstown, NH... and a van…
[Hide Comment] i always called it the rest stop boulder... i dont know any names or grades but ive poked around on it... i know brett myers and company climbed some hard-ish highballs on the big boulder years ago... Jun 23, 2010
MattWallace
Meredith, NH
[Hide Comment] Is it generally accepted to on the Rest Stop Boulder?I have seen it a few times from the highway and didnt know if it was ok to climb there. Jun 23, 2010
Lee Hansche
Allenstown, NH... and a van…
[Hide Comment] as far as i know climbing at the rest stop is legit... Jun 23, 2010
[Hide Comment] The rest stop boulder was climbed in 1982? by Tom Bowker and Jay Golden. They may have actually led something up it, besides top roping on it. Jul 19, 2010
Mike Robinson
Grand Junction, CO
[Hide Comment] I spoke with a couple of the folks that work at this rest stop and no problems with climbing there, I cleaned a couple of (new?) lines on the right corner of the boulder as you are walking to it from the parking lot, V4ish and very good! Aug 10, 2010
Jeffrey LeCours
New Hampshire
[Hide Comment] Was Joe English Hill (New Boston AF tracking station) removed from the site recently? I vaguely recall it having a section at mentioning that access was uncertain but I at least remember their being a page of discussion. Is anyone certain? Apr 20, 2014
Glenn Cilley
Laconia, NH
[Hide Comment] I have a Joe English guide book Apr 22, 2014
Jeffrey LeCours
New Hampshire
[Hide Comment] Glenn, a physical copy of the one from Paul Duval from the late 70's? As a collector, I'm super jealous! Shoot me an e-mail if you'd let me sneak a peak - first beer is on me! :D Apr 23, 2014
Glenn Cilley
Laconia, NH
[Hide Comment] Jeff I could only find Rock Rimmon and Pawtuckaway I will try to find it, I know I have it Apr 24, 2014
Charlie Boulanger
Tilton, New Hampshire
[Hide Comment] Has anyone picked this guide up? I cant find any references to it anywhere but their website.

pawtuckawayclimbing.us/ May 1, 2015
M Sprague
New England
[Hide Comment] I have it and generally like it. Some will be annoyed that the author used ski grades rather than V grades, doesn't give FA information and a couple of the areas were deliberately left light on details to keep the adventure. The book does have excellent photos with topos and maps though. It is by far the best for the area that I know of and should help you find a good time. May 4, 2015
caesar.salad
earth
[Hide Comment] Ditto, I also love the new setup. Great job. Just FYI though Rattlesnake Mountain is part of the White Mountain National Forest (the parts that aren't privately owned, anyway). Sep 1, 2015
M Sprague
New England
[Hide Comment] "Just FYI though Rattlesnake Mountain is part of the White Mountain National Forest"
It is, but map wise it is in the NW tongue of the blue "lakes region" of the visitNH.gov regional overview map, probably because of Stinson Lake, just north of Rumney Village. Mar 10, 2016
Will S
Boston, MA
[Hide Comment] Just did the math, NH has more climbs (according to MP) per square mile, than both Colorado, and California. New Hampshire is the shit! May 21, 2021
Dennis Garcia
Chelsea, QC
[Hide Comment] Hello all, looking for information on local accepted multi-day wall climbing and aid rules...

plan to visit this area as training and wall-systems review for my up coming Yosemite wall-solo trip.. been many years since my last big wall and feel a bit rusty, and would like to get some real hands on prior to up coming trip...

what are the the local rules with regard to hauling and bivy on this or other aid specific walls around this area?.

thanks,
Dennis

“Live Free or Die” - not a lot of rules here. Common sense is. For example,if you are going to spend the night on , say, Cannon’s VMC Direct it makes sense to let someone at either NH Fish and Game ( responsible for rescue in NH) or the Pemmigiwassett Rescue Team [ local technical rescue] ( or both) know that on Such and such a day people might see lights in the middle of Cannon’s face at night. At minimum, register at the kiosk that you are climbing and may be overnight. Most Cathedral aid routes can be done in 1 day, but again if your planning on overnight let the Mt Washington Valley Rescue folk know. No one wants a 2am phone call.
Other than that, no new bolts ( replacing bad ones is OK ) and have fun! Aug 25, 2022