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Elevation: 70 ft
GPS: 42.1945, -71.4998
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 82,784 total · 396/month
Shared By: Robbovius on Jan 13, 2007
Admins: Old Timer, jim.dangle, Joe M

Description Suggest change

College Rock is a pleasant, 200-foot-long west-facing crag that rises up out of the ground at the north end, reaches a bit over 35 feet at its highest, and then it sinks back down into the ground at the south end, with top access easily achieved from either end. Most of the crag is between 25 and 30 feet high, broken up by by several right-facing corners/buttresses, and includes face climbing, crack work, and overhangs/roofs, with grades ranging from 5.0 to 5.11.

The grades are somewhat stiff (sandbagged by the oldtime FA artists perhaps? ;-) ), and many a first-time CR visitor has been shut down on climbs that grade-wise, they had expected to cruise. Climbing at College Rock can be characterised as being technical and sequency, with a lot of satisfaction to be had overcoming the many tricky moves.

The College Rock girdle traverse follows the entire 200 feet of the crag, without a break, the difficulty ranging from easy, juggy hauling, to difficult crimpy desperation. Some nice, easy, warmup semi-highballing (10-15 feet, 5.4-5.6) is avaialble at the south end. Several of the routes are leadable, though the crag is pretty much a top-roping haven.

Anchors are either slung from trees, mostly rather far back from the cliff face, or built from gear. If you've got a choice, choose gear, as many of the pines are noticably worn and polished around the bark at the base from decades of slinging.

There is bouldering here, in various spots around the crag are at least 6 or 7 boulders with routes to V7.

College tends to stay a bit damp after rain, and after a heavy day or two of rain, will show noticable seepage and runoff from the various cracks. Also, on humid days the rock can become slick from condensation, since the rock tends to stay cool in it's woodsy locale.

It lies about 45 minutes WSW of Boston. The Boston Marathon start nearby in Hopkinton center, about 3.5 miles away on rte 135.

College Rock is located at the head of a popular mountain biking trail system, and the parking lot can easily fill right up on nice weekend days.

Getting There Suggest change

College Rock is easily accessble, and only about 2.5 miles from exit 20 off of Rte 495. from exit 20, take Rte 85 north towards Hopkinton (~45 minutes west of Boston). After crossing the Hopkinton town line, you'll crest a hill, and College Street will be immediately on your right, across the street from a red barn. Follow College Street about 0.2 miles until you come to the dirt parking area on the right. There's room for about 6-8 cars, with other dirt pull-offs on College Street nearby for when the lot is full.

From Route 135, come to Hopkinton center, and take Route 85 south at the lights, going uphill. Follow Route 85 through the lights past Hopkinton Middle School and High School, straight through the next flashing yellow, and after Cornell's Pub (ain't never been there, they tell me it's nice), look for College Street on the left across from the red barn. Follow College St. as above.

Aerial View

Suggest change
From Robb, when you open the view or view, you'll see College Street with a big with house above the street. Almost directly across the street (below in the view) there's a big grove of pine trees in the woods (the picture was taken when the deciduous trees were leafless). College Rock is in that grove. You can just barely make out the MTB/hiking trail.

48 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at College Rock

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 10
"Exercize Buttress"
Trad, TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 23
More Money
TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 16
It's Late September
TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 21
Send Money
TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 4
Nerds
TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 34
Militant Right
TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 30
Exersize Left to the Reader
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 8
Don't Stop Till You See the Whit…
TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 15
A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste
TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 4
"Steeple" Face
TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 18
Almost Cut My Hair
TR
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 5
Flunked Again
TR
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 4
Extra Points
TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c V3 6A
 4
College Rock Traverse
Boulder
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 30
My Mind Is A Blank
Trad, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
"Exercize Buttress" Main Crag
 10
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad, TR
More Money Main Crag
 23
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR
It's Late September Main Crag
 16
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR
Send Money Main Crag
 21
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR
Nerds Main Crag
 4
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR
Militant Right Main Crag
 34
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a TR
Exersize Left to the Reader Main Crag
 30
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Don't Stop Till You See the… Main Crag
 8
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a TR
A Mind is a Terrible Thing… Main Crag
 15
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a TR
"Steeple" Face Main Crag
 4
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a TR
Almost Cut My Hair Main Crag
 18
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a TR
Flunked Again Main Crag
 5
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b TR
Extra Points Main Crag
 4
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b TR
College Rock Traverse Main Crag
 4
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c V3 6A Boulder
My Mind Is A Blank Main Crag
 30
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad, TR
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