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New York · Rock Climbing
Franklin, New York sits in Delaware County in the western Catskills, and the climbing here centers on Loon Lake Mountain, a compact area with a handful of distinct walls and features that reward repeat visits.
7 spotsUpdated weeklyFree to access
View on mapRock Climbing · 7 spots
Franklin, New York sits in Delaware County in the western Catskills, and the climbing here centers on Loon Lake Mountain, a compact area with a handful of distinct walls and features that reward repeat visits. The lineup includes West Crag routes like Starry Skies and Loonar Ecstasy, the featured face of Easter Island and its companion Rapa Nui, the lower-angle Slab, and Ramp Wall — seven routes in total across terrain that skews toward moderate trad and sport climbing rather than big-wall objectives. This isn't a destination you'll see on national climbing media radar, which is part of the appeal: the crags tend to be quiet, the rock is generally sound, and the setting is rural enough that you're not fighting for parking or jockeying for a route. If you're driving up from the Hudson Valley or making a weekend out of it from New York City, Franklin works well as a base — the town is small but functional, and Loon Lake Mountain is the kind of place where a half-day at the crag leaves time to explore the surrounding hills in the afternoon.
The area has routes suited to climbers who are past the absolute beginner stage, with walls like The Slab offering lower-angle terrain and routes like Easter Island and Rapa Nui providing more technical face climbing. It's a reasonable destination for intermediate climbers building outdoor trad experience, though very new climbers will want to come with someone who can lead and set up top-ropes.
A standard trad rack is the safe assumption for Loon Lake Mountain given the style of climbing typical at Catskills crags. Bring a full set of cams and nuts, a 60-meter rope, and helmets — the rock can shed debris, especially early in the season. Check a current guidebook or recent trip reports on Mountain Project before your visit to confirm specific protection requirements for the routes you're targeting.
Loon Lake Mtn
Natural rock climbing area on Loon Lake Mountain in New York.
West Crag - Loonar Ecstasy
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Crack 2
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
K: Northern Region
~18 min drive
Versatile New York climbing area with varied terrain and multiple grade options.
West Crag - Starry Skies
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Commitska
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Baker Mountain
~27 min drive
Solid New York climbing with varied routes for multiple skill levels.
Ramp Wall
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Crack 1
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Mud Pond
~27 min drive
New York climbing area with routes for multiple skill levels.
Easter Island
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Double Double Dyno
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Late spring through early fall is the main window, with May, June, September, and October generally offering the most reliable conditions. Summer can work but midday heat on south-facing walls like West Crag makes morning starts worthwhile. Avoid the crags during and immediately after heavy rain, and expect some routes to be wet into May depending on snowmelt.
Access details and land status can change, so confirm current conditions through the Access Fund or local climbing organizations before your trip. Don't assume free and open access without checking — land ownership in this part of the Catskills is a mix of private and public, and respecting posted access points is important for keeping the area open.
Approach length isn't something we have confirmed data on for these specific walls, so check a current guidebook or recent Mountain Project comments for walk-in times to Ramp Wall, West Crag, and The Slab individually — they likely vary. What's consistent with areas like this is that hiking boots or approach shoes are worth wearing rather than climbing shoes from the car.
