Rock Climbing in Pound Ridge, New York

Pound Ridge sits in the northeastern corner of Westchester County, and while it doesn't show up on most climbers' radar the way the Gunks or Breakneck do, it has a legitimate bouldering scene worth making the drive for. The action is concentrated at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and the Westchester Wilderness Walk/Zofnass Family Preserve, two areas that together account for the bulk of the 20 active listings here. The problems skew toward technical, character-rich bouldering — think Mallard Crack, Auburn Arete, and The Wave — with enough variety that intermediate boulderers will find plenty to work on across multiple sessions. Named problems like Snakehead, El Grande, and Ice Age suggest a range of styles, from crimpy face climbing to crack work. The Southern Loop climbing area ties several of these problems together into a walkable circuit. Grades here aren't extreme, but the rock — typical Westchester gneiss — can be polished in spots and lichen-covered in others, which is exactly what Lichen Wrangler and Choss Wrangler are named after. If you're coming from New York City, this is a half-day trip that pairs well with the reservation's trail network.