Michigan · Rock climbing · Matchwood Township

Norwich Ledge

Norwich LedgePhoto: Ian Shackleford, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
12 routes
5.4 – 5.10
Trad
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Norwich Ledge open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Ottawa National Forest. It doesn't name Norwich Ledge, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Ottawa National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Norwich Ledge is a climbing area in Michigan's Ottawa National Forest, within the Bergland Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits among a cluster of trails and paddling routes in the Bergland region. The climbing here is all traditional, with 12 routes spread across a range from 5.4 to 5.10. The easiest is When Snails Attack at 5.4, and the hardest is Arrowhead at 5.10. Swiss Army Crack and Walt's Crawlers are both 5.7, and Bazinga! is 5.9. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from the nearby Bergland Dam weather station run to highs around 77°F in July, with lows near 53°F. That station sits about 260 feet lower than the ledge, so temperatures on the rock run a little cooler. The closest neighbor is the Peregrine (Hacking Site) hike, about 0.1 mile away. Within about 3 miles you'll also find the West Branch Ontonagon River for paddling, Cascade Falls and the Bluff hike.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Norwich Ledge

    Best months: June–August. 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

      21° / 3°

      21 wet

    2. Feb

      25° / 2°

      16 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 10°

      15 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 25°

      14 wet

    5. May

      64° / 38°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      74° / 48°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 53°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 51°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 44°

      13 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 33°

      16 wet

    11. Nov

      38° / 23°

      17 wet

    12. Dec

      26° / 11°

      20 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bergland Dam, MI, 4.9 mi away at 1,300 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (12)