The Cove
Photo: Karlunun, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 8 routes
- V0 – V3+
- Bouldering
- Jun–Oct
- best months
The Cove is a bouldering area in Massachusetts, about 0.8 miles from the community of Malden Highlands. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Painted Boulder and Hemlock Pool at Middlesex Fells each about 0.1 mile away, and Woodland Road Boulder about 0.4 mile off. The area is a compact, close-together network of boulders rather than a single route, and it works well as a short stop for climbers already exploring the Middlesex Fells. The climbing here is all bouldering, with eight routes spread across the area. The grades run from V0 to V3+, with the easiest being Ladder and Sippy Cup at V0 and the hardest being Benchmark at V3+. Indo Trees is V1+ and West Express is V2-. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Reading show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 75°F, while winter brings regular snow days from December through February. Hemlock Pool Path and Cross Fells Trail are both within half a mile for a walk alongside the climbing. Paddlers can reach the Shawsheen River about 10 miles away.
- Painted BoulderRock climbingPhoto: Karlunun, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.1 mi
- Hemlock Pool at Middlesex FellsRock climbingPhoto: Karlunun, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.1 mi
Hemlock Pool PathHikingPhoto: ethan.long, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi- Woodland Road BoulderRock climbing0.4 mi
- BooJum Rock Area at Middlesex FellsRock climbing0.4 mi
- Cross Fells TrailHiking0.5 mi
Rock Circuit TrailHikingPhoto: isforinsects, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.5 mi
Shawsheen RiverCanoeingPhoto: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)9.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Painted BoulderRock climbing · Next doorPhoto: Karlunun, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Hemlock Pool at Middlesex FellsRock climbing · Next doorPhoto: Karlunun, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Crag 3Rock climbing · Next doorPhoto: Karlunun, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Fat ManRock climbing · ~1 min drivePhoto: Karlunun, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Crag 54Rock climbing · ~1 min drivePhoto: Karlunun, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Woodland Road BoulderRock climbing · Next door
- BooJum Rock Area at Middlesex FellsRock climbing · Next door
- Crag 1 aka Pinnacle RockRock climbing · Next door
- Crag 6Rock climbing · ~1 min drive
- Wright's ParkRock climbing · ~1 min drive
Best time to visit The Cove
Best months: June–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° / 19°
12 wet · 8 snow
Feb
40° / 20°
11 wet · 7 snow
Mar
48° / 27°
13 wet · 6 snow
Apr
60° / 37°
13 wet · 1 snow
May
70° / 47°
13 wet
Jun
78° / 56°
12 wet
Jul
84° / 63°
11 wet
Aug
82° / 61°
10 wet
Sep
75° / 53°
9 wet
Oct
64° / 42°
11 wet
Nov
53° / 32°
11 wet · 2 snow
Dec
43° / 24°
12 wet · 5 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Reading, MA, 5.8 mi away at 110 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
