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New York · Rock Climbing
Redwood, New York sits in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence Valley, and its rock climbing scene is almost entirely built around bouldering.
44 spotsUpdated weeklyFree to access
View on mapRock Climbing · 44 spots
Redwood, New York sits in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence Valley, and its rock climbing scene is almost entirely built around bouldering. The 44 active listings here lean heavily toward short, technical problems rather than roped routes, with areas like Butter Cliffs, Fairyland Wall, Cliffs Minor, and First Overlook serving as the main destinations. The rock tends to reward precision and body tension — problems like Thin Mint, The Little Squeeze, and A Wrinkle In Time suggest crimpy, technical movement, while names like Juniper's Crack and Rackless Entertainment hint at crack and slab variations in the mix. A handful of roped routes do exist, including Butter Finger and Butter's Got Back at Butter Cliffs, so if you're bringing a rack or a rope, that's your most likely stop. The bouldering circuit here suits climbers who are comfortable working problems independently — there's no climbing gym atmosphere, and beta can be sparse. Intermediate boulderers will find plenty to project, and beginners willing to warm up on easier problems at spots like Cliffs Minor should be able to stay busy. This is a low-key, local-feeling area, not a destination crag with amenities, so come self-sufficient.
The main named areas are Butter Cliffs, Fairyland Wall, Cliffs Minor, and First Overlook. Butter Cliffs is your best bet if you want the option of roped climbing, since it hosts the only listed rope-dependent routes (Butter Finger and Butter's Got Back). The other areas appear to be bouldering-focused, and Cliffs Minor's name suggests it may offer shorter or lower-consequence problems, which could make it a reasonable warm-up spot.
Mostly bouldering. Of the 44 active listings, the overwhelming majority are boulder problems. Butter Cliffs has at least two listed rock climbing routes, so bring a rope and gear if that's your goal and you're heading there specifically. For everything else, a crash pad and climbing shoes are the essential kit.
Tagalong
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Fairyland Wall
~1 min drive
Versatile New York crag with routes for multiple ability levels.
Prehistoric Tool Use
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Thin Mint
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Cliffs Minor
~1 min drive
Accessible New York crag with varied climbing for all levels.
Knobby Bobby
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Trip Leader
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
First Overlook
~1 min drive
Accessible New York crag with varied climbing and scenic views.
One Bird Swarm
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Curveball
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Indian River Lakes
~1 min drive
New York climbing area near Indian River Lakes with varied rock formations.
Buttered Numb
~6 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New York.
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Rock climbing
Redwood, New York
Rock climbing
Redwood, New York
Rock climbing
Redwood, New York
Rock climbing
Redwood, New York
Rock climbing
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Rock climbing
Redwood, New York
Rock climbing
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Rock climbing
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Rock climbing
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Bouldering
Redwood, New York
Rock climbing
Redwood, New York
Spring and fall are generally the most reliable seasons for friction climbing in the northeastern US, and that holds here. Summer humidity can make slopers and technical face climbing feel greasy, and the Thousand Islands region gets real winters with snow and ice that make bouldering impractical. Late September through early November and April through May tend to offer the driest, coolest conditions.
There are beginner-friendly options here, but this isn't a guided or curated beginner destination. The problem names and variety suggest a range of difficulties, and areas like Cliffs Minor may offer lower-stakes terrain to start on. Beginners should come with someone who knows the area, since access, landings, and problem locations aren't always obvious without local knowledge or a detailed guidebook.
Access details for Redwood's climbing areas aren't formally published in the listing data available here, so check with a local climbing organization or the Access Fund before your trip. Treat any gates, posted signs, or seasonal closures seriously — low-traffic areas like these can lose access quickly if climbers create problems with landowners.