Massachusetts · Rock climbing · Needham

Ship's Prow Boulder

5 routes
V0+ – V5
Bouldering
Apr–Oct
best months

Ship's Prow Boulder is a bouldering area in Massachusetts, about half a mile from Needham Junction. It sits among a cluster of climbing and riding spots, with Rainbow Rocks just 0.1 mile away and Illusive Cliff and the Red Path mountain biking route each about 0.2 mile off. The area has five bouldering routes, all rated on the V scale from V0+ to V5. Phantom Arete is the easiest at V0+, and Dyno-Sore is the hardest at V5. Los Aretes and Ghost Grin Traverse sit in the V1-2 range, and Left Sit to Phantom Arete is V2-3. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the sweet spots. Typical averages from the nearby Natick weather station run to highs around 68°F in May and 73°F in September, with July the warmest month at about 82°F. Needham Town Forest is about 0.3 mile away, and the Bay Colony Rail Trail is roughly 1.2 miles off. Paddlers can reach the East Branch Neponset River about 9 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Ship's Prow Boulder

    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.

    1. Jan

      35° / 17°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 18°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 25°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      58° / 35°

      11 wet

    5. May

      68° / 46°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 56°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 62°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 59°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 52°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 40°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      51° / 31°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      41° / 23°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Natick, MA, 4.8 mi away at 180 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (5)