Continue with onX Maps
Sign in with Facebook
Rappelling in MA/New England
|
I'm looking for fun places to bring my kids and other newbies rappelling. Something with a quick, non-climbing approach and not too many loose rocks or sketchy debris to deal with. Anyone know of any cool places within an hour or two from Boston? (and please don't say Quincy Quarries, I'm looking for something a little....cleaner) Thanks! |
J P wrote: Do you have gear for anchoring or looking for fixed gear or trees? |
|
Crow Hill, Practice Wall near Leominster. Farthest right at the crag. Several huge fixed anchors and a nice clean ledge, low angle slab to rappel down. You can easily hike up to the top where the anchors are. Honestly perfect for what you’re looking for. It does get busy with climbers so try to go on a day where there aren’t TRs or leaders on the route. |
Ry C wrote: The second paragraph states the ' issue' here. Most of the potential places that would be appropriate to take children rappelling are equally likely to be popular with climbers, so leading to potential 'conflicts' , especially if you will be occupying the section of cliff for a significant period of time. And, yes, I am prioritizing climbing over rappelling, because this is a climbing not rappelling forum. |
|
As stated you can’t beat the setup on Practice Wall at Crow Hill…. Weekends it will be festooned with climbers but if you go mid week you should be okay. Worth noting nearly every Boy Scout troop in MA get their badges there so you may be competing with them in the spring/summer months. Perfect set up for a belayed rappel with the three solid anchors. If you have to go on a weekend there are some lower angle smaller cliffs well to the left of end crags that might work for you… and nobody climbs over there. Picnic tables nearby can make for a nice day. Few fun, short TRs for the kiddos too. |
Casey J wrote: Gear anchor, bolts, BFR's, or trees are all fine. |
|
https://www.mountainproject.com/area/107982413/shining-rock This is a whole crag reminiscent of the Crow Hill practice wall without the traffic. There are a bunch of sensitive drawfed trees and pitch pines that can’t take the abuse of regular use as anchors, so please be careful and use the big white pines. Small rack of cams would be helpful. Some bolted anchors but few that are positioned well for your intentions. |
|
Redrocks in Gloucester has bolted anchors with easy access. The main wall is generally busy on the weekends - masters wall or Pink Floyd wall would be a safe bet even on the weekend though. They are all close to each other |
|
Middlesex Fells has several less than vertical rocks without traffic perfect to rappel from. |
|
If you don't mind a commute up to NH, Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham has some easily accessible spots to rappell from. Just a short hike in from Horsefarm parking. Lower Slabs (less steep) and Upper cliffs (more verticle) are a good spot to learn but can get busy during peak hours. If you don't mind hiking in a bit further, The Dome offers a good view from the top and is generally less busy and not too steep. Lots of trees/gear opportunities at the tops of all these options as well as tats/rings at the top of some. |
|
Rattlesnake Gutter. Easy flat approach with some cool reasonably tall cliffs. It is not a climbing area so there are no bolts but plenty of large trees. There is an established trail that goes up and runs along the edge of the cliff so getting up is pretty straight forward. Also, there are cool boulders and little caves beneath the cliffs that I bet your kids would enjoy exploring. |
|
You could try the main face at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. Not very popular for climbing, so you won't be competing for the face, and it's a beautiful park right on the water. It's roughly 30ft tall and low angle, so probably fine for kids. I'd just bring either very long slings, or preferably a static rope, for the top anchor. The trees are set way back from the edge, and I'm not sure about gear placements or bolts on top. https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105908115/stage-fort-park |
|
Thanks for all the great responses! I've taken my 9 and 11yr old rappelling in the Fells and College Rock, both very enjoyable. We've climbed at Crow HIll, Red Rocks, and Pawtuckaway as well. We've also done a fair amount in Utah and Colorado. My 6yr old tried rappelling last year and was really into it....once he got to the ground! I'm looking forward to trying Rattlesnake Gutter, Shinning Rock, and Stage Fort Park, they all look fun. |
Liam Coughlin wrote: The main cliff at Rattlesnake Gutter is very much 'off limits' ---very hostile landowner lives below cliff, so no rappelling there. Are you talking about the 'Lips' cliff at the height of land--1/2 way through the Gutter along the no vehicle road? That is quite steep, with several roof systems, so doesn't seem the best place to take kids rappelling. In the same general region, several of the outlying outcrops at Rose Ledge, including the upper tier, don't see much climbing activity and have plenty of trees for anchors, so shoukk ok d be okay for rappelling. |
|
I second Middlesex Fells and would add Breakheart Reservation - especially coming in fr the Saugus side therEnid an absolutely perfect place for this near the beach/picnic area. |
|
Check out Red Rocks in Gloucester. |
|
Main wall at Hammond Pond in Newton. The main wall is great for rappelling practice. Easy scramble up either side. Big trees to rap off. Nice clean face to rap down. Purgatory Chasm in Sutton is great too. College Rock in Hopkington. All of these have easy scrambles up and plenty of trees for anchors. Have fun. Be safe. |
|
Pawtuckaway state park in NH has easy to access tops of cliffs and slabs, with lots of trees and natural anchors. |
|
Rines Hill in Alton NH. Nice family area, never crowded. Easy walk |
