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Wiswall Boulders (aka Thompson Farm)

New Hampshire > Southeast / Sea… > Newmarket / Durham
Warning Access Issue: Parking is very limited if entering the property from Packers Falls Road @ Wiswall Road. DetailsDrop down

Description

There are multiple boulders here. Great rock offering a little bit of something for everyone. The boulders are in the trees, but open enough to see ample sunlight throughout the day to keep the rock dry.

The land is owned and managed by UNH and abuts Foss Farm and college woods at the far NE end.

Getting There

The most direct trail entrance to this area is located off of Packers Falls Road, directly across the street from Wiswall Road in Durham. Packers falls can be accessed from either route 155 in Durham, or route 152 in Newmarket. Parking here is a bit tricky, because the Owner of the house on the left when you pull onto Wiswall has been known to be a bit grumpy with people using this access point. If you park along the right side of Wiswall though you shouldn't have a problem.
Once you park walk back toward, and cross Packers Falls rd. To the right of the white house there is a well hidden trail entrance between two property's. the approach is <5 min and the boulders are practically in the trail.

Routes from Left to Right

V0 4
 5
Wet Willy
Boulder
V1 5
 21
Sloppy Seconds
Boulder
V3 6A
 2
The Wiz Kid
Boulder
V4 6B
 16
The Wiz
Boulder
V4 6B
 14
Lunge or Plunge
Boulder
V4-5 6B+
 0
Lunch or Plunger
Boulder
V0- 4-
 6
The Crack
Boulder
V0 4
 14
Fun Ladder
Boulder
V5 6C
 10
Magician
Boulder
V2-3 5+
 2
Redemption
Boulder
V3 6A
 1
Redemption Arc
Boulder
V0- 4-
 2
Rail
Boulder
V1 5
 14
Man Handle
Boulder
V1 5
 5
Dolph's Traverse
Boulder
V2 5+
 2
The Abyss
Boulder
V0- 4-
 5
The Dark Slot
Boulder
V4 6B
 0
Palm Reader
Boulder
V2 5+
 0
Pimp My Ride
Boulder
V4 6B
 7
White Magic
Boulder
V4-5 6B+
 2
Black Magic
Boulder
V6 7A
 1
Black Magic right
Boulder
V0 4
 9
Captain No-hands
Boulder
V0 4
 16
Slope Dope
Boulder
V0 4
 12
Warm
Boulder
V0-1 4+
 14
Warmer
Boulder
V1 5
 15
Fireball
Boulder
V4 6B
 4
Friction Fiction
Boulder
V1 5
 5
Shorty
Boulder
V5 6C
 0
Magic Carpet Ride
Boulder
V0- 4-
 2
Rail Traverse
Boulder
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Wet Willy
 5
V0 4 Boulder
Sloppy Seconds
 21
V1 5 Boulder
The Wiz Kid
 2
V3 6A Boulder
The Wiz
 16
V4 6B Boulder
Lunge or Plunge
 14
V4 6B Boulder
Lunch or Plunger
 0
V4-5 6B+ Boulder
The Crack
 6
V0- 4- Boulder
Fun Ladder
 14
V0 4 Boulder
Magician
 10
V5 6C Boulder
Redemption
 2
V2-3 5+ Boulder
Redemption Arc
 1
V3 6A Boulder
Rail
 2
V0- 4- Boulder
Man Handle
 14
V1 5 Boulder
Dolph's Traverse
 5
V1 5 Boulder
The Abyss
 2
V2 5+ Boulder
The Dark Slot
 5
V0- 4- Boulder
Palm Reader
 0
V4 6B Boulder
Pimp My Ride
 0
V2 5+ Boulder
White Magic
 7
V4 6B Boulder
Black Magic
 2
V4-5 6B+ Boulder
Black Magic right
 1
V6 7A Boulder
Captain No-hands
 9
V0 4 Boulder
Slope Dope
 16
V0 4 Boulder
Warm
 12
V0 4 Boulder
Warmer
 14
V0-1 4+ Boulder
Fireball
 15
V1 5 Boulder
Friction Fiction
 4
V4 6B Boulder
Shorty
 5
V1 5 Boulder
Magic Carpet Ride
 0
V5 6C Boulder
Rail Traverse
 2
V0- 4- Boulder

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The Wiswall Boulders (aka Handkerchief Rocks, aka Thompson Farm)
[Hide Photo] The Wiswall Boulders (aka Handkerchief Rocks, aka Thompson Farm)
Curtis Sweet on Lunge or Plunge
[Hide Photo] Curtis Sweet on Lunge or Plunge

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Spencer Nowak
Dover, NH
[Hide Comment] More parking is available in the lot for Wiswall Dam ~.2 miles down Wiswall Rd. Adds about 4-5 minutes to the approach. Mar 12, 2013
[Hide Comment] For what it's worth we've always called this set of boulders the Wiswall Boulders, though they have had other names I'm sure. Once upon a time they were even known as the Handkerchief Rocks because people use to wave their handkerchiefs at the carriages and horses that would ride by the on the road as they were having lunch on the rocks.

I've also posted the page of our personal mini guide to the area (Mike Veazey and Ri Fahnestock see the Exeter Boulder) which while more comprehensive uses different names than those used on MP. Apr 17, 2014