New York · Rock climbing · Fort Ann · Near Schroon Lake

Neanderthal Cave

8 routes
5.7 – 5.10d
Sport · Trad
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Neanderthal Cave is a climbing area in the Lake George Wild Forest in New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Main Wall and the Desert Shield Area each about 0.1 mile away and Shelving Rock about 0.2 mile off. The area is a compact hub of rock, with several climbing routes within a short distance of one another. The climbing here is a mix of sport and trad routes, with sport being the more common style. The YDS grades run from 5.7 up to 5.10d, and the hardest route listed is Protruding Forehead, a trad climb at 5.10d. The sport routes include Dweezil and Sub Dude at 5.7, and Diva at 5.10a. For timing, late spring through early fall is the most comfortable stretch. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Whitehall show July highs around 83°F and September highs around 74°F, with the cave itself sitting higher than the station, so temperatures there run a little cooler. Hikers can find the Red Rock Bay to Ridge Trail about 1.5 miles away, and anglers can head to The Sagamore, about 2.2 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Hens and Chickens Island

    Campground

    Campground · 0.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Bolton Landing Brewing Company

    Brewery

    On your way back · 3 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Schroon Lake
  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Neanderthal Cave

    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

      30° / 12°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 12°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 22°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      58° / 35°

      11 wet

    5. May

      71° / 47°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 56°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 61°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 60°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 52°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      61° / 41°

      12 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 31°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 21°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Whitehall, NY, 10.2 mi away at 119 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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