Otter Lake Cliff
- 16 routes
- 5.9+ – 5.12a
- Sport · Bouldering
- May–Sep
- best months
Otter Lake Cliff is a climbing area in the Shaker Mountain Wild Forest in New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Rookie Boulder and Green Lake Boulders each about a mile away. The area has 16 routes, mostly sport climbs with one boulder problem. The grades run from 5.9+ up to 5.12a on the YDS scale, with the White Arete at 5.10d and the Roof Direct at 5.12a among the standouts. The boulder route is listed as V7+. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 77°F with lows near 56°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. Burnt Valley Trail and Long Lake Crossover Trail are hikes about 4 miles away.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Otter Lake Cliff
Best months: May–September. 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.
Jan
24° / 7°
Feb
27° / 8°
Mar
35° / 16°
Apr
48° / 29°
May
63° / 42°
Jun
72° / 52°
Jul
77° / 56°
Aug
73° / 54°
Sep
67° / 46°
Oct
53° / 36°
Nov
40° / 25°
Dec
30° / 16°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gloversville 7nw (Peck Lake), NY, 6.6 mi away at 1,455 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Routes (16)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
CLIMB
Rookie Boulder
~2 min drive
Rookie Boulder in New York has 12 bouldering routes across 9 grades.
CLIMB
Green Lake Boulders
~2 min drive
Green Lake Boulders in New York has 4 bouldering routes.
CLIMB
Main Area
~3 min drive
Main Area is a New York climbing crag with 15 routes.
CLIMB
Area 1
~3 min drive
Area 1 in New York has 22 bouldering routes across 7 grades.
CLIMB
Satellite Area
~3 min drive
Satellite Area in New York has 10 bouldering routes across 5 grades.
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Warm Up Area
~3 min drive
Warm Up Area in New York has 8 climbing routes rated on 3 difficulty grades.
CLIMB
Pinnacle Pullout Boulders
~3 min drive
Pinnacle Pullout Boulders in New York has 8 bouldering routes.
CLIMB
Middle Earth
~3 min drive
Middle Earth in New York has 10 bouldering routes across 5 grades.
CLIMB
Nick Stoner
~3 min drive
Nick Stoner is a New York climbing crag with 19 routes on 6 difficulty grades.
CLIMB
Residue Boulder
~3 min drive
Residue Boulder in New York has 5 bouldering routes across 3 difficulty grades.
