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Elevation: 909 ft
GPS: 44.005, -71.2393
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 95,879 total · 465/month
Shared By: Jay Knower on Apr 17, 2007
Admins: Jay Knower, M Sprague, Lee Hansche, Jeffrey LeCours, Jonathan S, Robert Hall

Description Suggest change

What if I were to tell you that a stellar sport cliff exists just outside the traditional stronghold of North Conway, New Hampshire? What if I said that this cliff offers high-quality bolted routes and that this cliff is decidedly different from Rumney? What if I said that this cliff saw the first emergence of "sport" ethics in New England and that one route actually sported a bolted-on gym hold. Would you believe me?

Probably not, and that is why Sundown Ledge is almost always deserted. Maybe it's because most climbers around North Conway set their sights on bigger and more grandiose objectives on Cathedral or Whitehorse. Maybe it's because the sport routes start at 5.11+ at Sundown where at Rumney, you can clip bolts on everything from 5.3 and up. At any rate, people seem to have forgotten about Sundown. Maybe it's a good thing that Sundown has faded from popularity because when the crowds get bad at Rumney, yet you still want that bolt-clipping fix, then Sundown is pretty much the perfect crag.

Plus, the sport climbs at Sundown are pretty slabby by modern standards and consist mostly of strenuous pulling on small edges up vertical or slightly overhanging walls. This place is no Orange Crush, that's for sure. While a few quality trad climbs exist, most notably the Henry Barber fingercrack testpiece Vultures (10d), it's the sport climbs that bring people to this quiet crag. Romper Room (12a) is the perfect little sport climb, and Eyeless in Gaza may very well be the best 12b in all of New England. Yellow Matter Custard (13a), The Argonaut (13a), and Pastryworks (13b) offer harder challenges for those who have maintained their dime-edge crimping technique that they cultivated in the eighties.

For a comprehensive look at Sundowns many crags, including the even lesser traveled outlying areas, Ed Webster's guidebook works well. The Rock Climbing New England guide lists the more popular routes at Sundown's main walls. Conway and North Conway, about ten miles away, hold every amenity imaginable.

Getting There Suggest change

All roads lead to the Kancamagus Highway, the scenic artery that cuts east/west across the state. On the eastern end, about ten miles west of Conway, you will see the Covered Bridge Campground on the north side of the road. Park on either side of the bridge in a lot (the bridge is closed in winter). Cross the river if you haven't already done so, and find the Boulder Loop, a heavily traveled hiking trail.

Set off on this trail and bear right (east) when you get to a fork. After about ten minutes, you should see the big cliff on your left. That's it. If you see a cairn, head up the talus to the base. If you miss the cairn, head up the talus to the base.

53 Total Climbs

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Location: Main Cliff Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Main Cliff

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 39
Bon Temps Rouler
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 98
Vultures
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 30
Agent Orange
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 87
Dikenstein
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 7
Carrion
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 42
The Promised Land
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 37
The Big Rip
Trad
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 73
Romper Room
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 109
Eyeless in Gaza
Sport
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 6
Toothless Grin
Trad
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 27
Mithras
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 16
Vanishing Point
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 12
Confederacy of Dunces
Trad, Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 6
Exodus to the Promised Land
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 10
Yellow Matter Custard
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Bon Temps Rouler
 39
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Vultures
 98
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
Agent Orange
 30
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad
Dikenstein
 87
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Carrion
 7
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
The Promised Land
 42
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
The Big Rip
 37
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad
Romper Room
 73
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Eyeless in Gaza
 109
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Toothless Grin
 6
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad
Mithras
 27
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Vanishing Point
 16
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Confederacy of Dunces
 12
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Trad, Sport
Exodus to the Promised Land
 6
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Yellow Matter Custard
 10
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Main Cliff »

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