New York · Rock climbing · Manhattan

Cat Rock

Cat RockPhoto: MartinThoma, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
11 routes
V0 – V10-11
Bouldering
Apr–Oct
best months

Cat Rock is a bouldering area in Central Park in New York City, on city land. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Tooth Rock and Chess Rock each about 0.1 mile away and West Face about 0.2 mile off. The area is a compact, close-together set of boulders rather than a long route, and it works well as a short stop for climbers already exploring the park's rock. The climbing here is all bouldering, with 11 routes spread across the V0 to V10-11 range. The easiest are Cat Crack and New York Cheesecake at V0, and the hardest is The Prophet at V10-11. The median grade is V4, so climbers can find problems at a range of difficulty levels. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, with July peaking near 85°F. Winter brings highs in the low 40s and a few snowy days a month from December through February. Beyond the rock, Tech Walk is a hike about 1.2 miles away, and the Hoboken Newport Walkway-Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is about 3.5 miles off. Paddlers can reach the Saw Mill Creek Canoe Trail, about 4.4 miles away, and the New York City Water Trail, about 4.5 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Cat Rock

    Best months: April–October. 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

      40° / 28°

      11 wet · 3 snow

    2. Feb

      42° / 30°

      10 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      50° / 36°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    4. Apr

      62° / 46°

      11 wet

    5. May

      71° / 55°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      80° / 64°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 70°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 69°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 62°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      65° / 51°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      54° / 42°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      44° / 34°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY, 0.8 mi away at 130 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (11)