New York · Rock climbing · Lake Minnewaska · Near New Windsor

j. Scrotum Pole/Drive in Area

12 routes
5.4 – 5.11
Sport · Mixed
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

The J. Scrotum Pole/Drive in Area is a climbing area within Minnewaska State Park Preserve in New York, managed by State Park and Recreation. It sits among a cluster of named climbing areas, including Peterskill, i. Terror Dome and m. Crevice right, and Psycho Wall, all within about a tenth of a mile. The area is best approached as part of a day spent exploring the park's rock and trails. The climbing here is a mix of sport and mixed routes, with 12 routes in total. Grades run from 5.4 to 5.11, and the hardest is Sac's Fifth Avenue at 5.11. Among the easier options are Up A Tree at 5.4 and Easy Rider at 5.6, both mixed routes. For timing, late spring through early fall is the most comfortable stretch. Typical averages from the nearby Mohonk Lake weather station show September highs around 73°F with lows near 56°F, while July peaks around 83°F. Winter brings regular snow days, with January averaging seven. Hikers can pair a climbing session with the High Peter's Kill Trail, about half a mile away, or King's Lane and Trapps Trail, both within a mile.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Bobo’s Farm

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 4 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: The original uploader was Daniel Case at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in New Windsor
  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit j. Scrotum Pole/Drive in Area

    Best months: April and June–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

      34° / 19°

      11 wet · 7 snow

    2. Feb

      37° / 20°

      9 wet · 6 snow

    3. Mar

      46° / 27°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    4. Apr

      60° / 39°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      71° / 50°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      78° / 59°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 64°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 63°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 56°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      61° / 45°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 35°

      10 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      38° / 25°

      11 wet · 5 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mohonk Lake, NY, 3.7 mi away at 1,245 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive