Massachusetts · Rock climbing · Westminster

The Buttress

6 routes
5.6 – 5.11b
Trad · Mixed
May–Oct
best months

The Buttress is a rock climbing area in central Massachusetts, about a mile from the community of Leino Park. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Main Face, Fisherman's Wall and Crow Hill all about 0.1 mile away, making it easy to move between areas on the same outing. The area has six routes, five of which are trad and one is mixed. Grades run from 5.6 to 5.11b, with the hardest being Lizard's Head at 5.11b, first climbed by Ed Webster in December 1973. The Buttress route itself, at 5.9, is a traditional climb with a 1963 first ascent by Hugo Stadmuller and John Porter. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ashburnham put July highs around 80°F and September highs around 71°F, while winter brings frequent snow days and highs near freezing. For a change from climbing, Red Oak Trail is half a mile away, and Monoosnoc Ridge Trail is under 4 miles off. Paddlers can head to the Quinapoxet River, about 10 miles from the area.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit The Buttress

    Best months: May–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

      31° / 14°

      13 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      33° / 15°

      11 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      41° / 23°

      13 wet · 6 snow

    4. Apr

      55° / 34°

      12 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      66° / 44°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 54°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 60°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 57°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 51°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 39°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 31°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      35° / 20°

      13 wet · 7 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ashburnham, MA, 7.4 mi away at 1,108 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (6)