Loading…
New York · Rock Climbing
Baiting Hollow sits on Long Island's North Shore, and while it won't be confused with the Gunks, it has a legitimate bouldering scene that rewards people willing to look past the obvious.
18 spotsUpdated weeklyFree to access
View on mapRock Climbing · 18 spots
Baiting Hollow sits on Long Island's North Shore, and while it won't be confused with the Gunks, it has a legitimate bouldering scene that rewards people willing to look past the obvious. The area's climbing is concentrated around the Edwards Avenue climbing area and the broader Long Island circuit, with 18 active listings that skew heavily toward bouldering problems. The problems here tend to be short and technical rather than tall and committing — names like Green Slime Traverse, Covid Traverse, and K Spar Arete hint at the variety of movement styles on offer, from low traverses to arete work to pocket pulling on routes like Single Pocket Face and Poor Man's Pocket. The rock is gneiss and schite typical of the North Shore bluffs, which means it can get slick after rain and polished on the most popular lines. This is approachable terrain for newer boulderers working on footwork and body positioning, but problems like West Face Overhang and Leather Back give intermediate climbers something to project. If you're driving out from New York City, it's a reasonable half-day objective, especially paired with other North Shore stops.
The bouldering here spans a range, but the majority of problems are accessible to beginner and intermediate climbers. Problems like Short Story, Gentle J, and the Unnamed Slabs are good starting points, while West Face Overhang and Leather Back offer more challenge. There are no multi-pitch routes in the listed areas — everything is bouldering, so you don't need lead climbing experience.
Climbing shoes and a crash pad are the essentials. The problems are low to the ground but landings can be uneven, so a pad matters. Bring a brush for cleaning holds, especially on the traverse problems like Green Slime Traverse and Covid Traverse, which can collect debris. A chalk bag is standard, though be aware that heavily chalked rock can get slippery when humidity is high.
Roanoke Avenue
~1 min drive
New York climbing area with varied routes for developing climbers.
Turd Bird
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Roanoke Point Boulder
~1 min drive
Natural bouldering area in New York with accessible problems for various levels.
Seal Slab
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Baiting Hollow/Riverhead Area
~6 min drive
Long Island climbing on glacial rock formations, beginner to intermediate.
Seaside Arete
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Long Island
~6 min drive
Accessible northeastern climbing on Long Island's glacial rock formations.
Seaside Slab
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Edwards Avenue
~7 min drive
Accessible New York climbing area with varied routes for developing climbers.
Turtle Head
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Bluff Boulders, The
~9 min drive
Accessible New York bouldering with varied problems for all levels.
Egg McBluffin
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Rock climbing
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Bouldering
Baiting Hollow, New York
Fall and spring are the most reliable seasons on Long Island. Cooler temperatures improve friction on the rock, and you avoid the humidity that makes summer climbing here frustrating. Winter days can work well when it's dry and above freezing. Summer is the least ideal season — the combination of heat and coastal humidity noticeably degrades conditions.
Access on Long Island's North Shore bluffs has historically been sensitive, so it's worth checking current conditions with local climbers or the Access Fund before your visit. Parking and trail access points can change. Treat the area with care — pack out all trash and avoid climbing on wet rock, which damages the surface and draws negative attention from landowners.
On its own, probably not for an all-day outing — the area is best treated as a half-day destination or combined with other North Shore activities. That said, if you're a Long Island local or already in the area, the variety across 18 problems including traverses, aretes, and face climbs makes it a solid session. The Edwards Avenue and Long Island climbing areas together give you enough to stay busy for a few hours.