Girl Scout Camp
Campground
Campground · 4.1 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Rock climbing · Fairfield · Near Mount Kisco
Samp Mortar
- 18 routes
- V0 – V11-12
- Bouldering
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Samp Mortar is a bouldering area in Connecticut, set within the Samp Mortar Rock land unit. It is a compact cluster of boulders, with 18 routes in total, and the climbing is all on rock rather than on a wall or a cliff. The boulders sit close together, and the routes range from easy to quite challenging. The easiest is Another Arete at V0, and the hardest is Hardest Line at V11-12. The median grade is V3+. The area is a natural fit for a day of bouldering, with several other climbing areas within a short drive. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Bridgeport show May highs around 68°F and September highs around 75°F, with July the warmest month at about 83°F. Mountain Laurel and Big Roof are both within a third of a mile, so it's easy to pair them with a visit. The White Trail and Yellow Trail are hiking options about a mile and a half away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Pazzo Pizza
Fast food
On your way back · 1 mi
If it rainsUser:Noroton, Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsChildren's museum in Connecticut, United States
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: User:Noroton, Public domain (commons)
More in Mount KiscoBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Samp Mortar
Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
38° / 24°
11 wet · 4 snow
Feb
40° / 26°
10 wet · 4 snow
Mar
47° / 32°
11 wet · 2 snow
Apr
58° / 42°
12 wet
May
68° / 52°
12 wet
Jun
78° / 62°
11 wet
Jul
83° / 68°
9 wet
Aug
82° / 67°
9 wet
Sep
75° / 60°
8 wet
Oct
64° / 48°
10 wet
Nov
54° / 38°
10 wet · 1 snow
Dec
44° / 30°
11 wet · 3 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Ap, CT, 7.3 mi away at 5 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Routes (18)
Samp SlabsV-easyAnother AreteFA: Ethan FrenchV0Highball SlabV0Koots's LineFA: John KuphalV1Warmup 1V1Warmup 2V1Warmup 3V1Hardest LineV11-12Middle Roof V1V2Sharp AreteV2+Middle Roof V3V3+Hole ClimbV4Middle Roof VariationV5Mushroom Traverse RightV5Mushroom Traverse LeftFA: Nate GoldV6Overhanging Pocket ProblemFA: John Kuphal?V6Right RoofV6Crimp line on Main RoofV6-7
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: H. Morrow Long, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Kettletown State Park
~28 min drive
Kettletown State Park in Connecticut has 7 climbing routes on bouldering pads.
CLIMB
Mountain Laurel
Next door
Mountain Laurel in Connecticut has 6 bouldering routes with 6 distinct difficulty grades.
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Big Roof
Next door
Big Roof in Connecticut has 6 bouldering routes across 5 grades.
CLIMB
Twin Brooks Park
~10 min drive
Twin Brooks Park in Connecticut has 6 climbing routes ranging across 5 difficulty grades.
CLIMB
Roosevelt Forest
~14 min drive
Roosevelt Forest in Connecticut has 6 bouldering routes with grades 5-6.
CLIMB
Great Ledge
~14 min drive
Great Ledge in Connecticut has 3 bouldering routes on rock faces.
CLIMB
Bald Rock Basin
~14 min drive
Bald Rock Basin in Connecticut has 6 climbing routes with 4 difficulty grades.
CLIMB
Main Face
~15 min drive
Main Face in Connecticut has 12 climbing routes with 9 difficulty grades, offering top-rope and trad options.
CLIMB
Western Coastal Slope
~18 min drive
6 routes at Western Coastal Slope in Connecticut span 5 difficulty grades, offering top-rope and trad climbing.
CLIMB
Slugs & Crickets Block
~22 min drive
7 routes, 6 grades, bouldering pads at Slugs & Crickets Block in Connecticut.
