New York · Rock climbing · Chesterfield · Near South Burlington

Poke-O-Moonshine Main Face

85 routes
5.4 – 5.13a
Trad · Sport
May–Oct
best months

Poke-O-Moonshine Main Face is a climbing area in New York's Poke-O-Moonshine Day Use Area, managed by the State Department of Conservation. It sits at the heart of a cluster of climbing and hiking spots, with other areas just a short distance away. The area has a rich mix of routes, with 85 climbing routes in total. About two-thirds are trad, and the rest are sport. The grades run from 5.4 up to 5.13a, so there's something for climbers of all levels. Trad routes include "The Snake" (5.4), "Group Therapy" (5.9) and "Morning Star" (5.10d), and the hardest sport route is "Salad Days" at 5.13a. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Willsboro show July highs around 80°F with lows near 61°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s and 30s. That station sits well below the crag, so temperatures at the rock run cooler. Poke-O-Moonshine Second Tier is just 0.2 miles away, and Poke-O Slab is 0.8 miles off. Hikers can reach Observer's Trail at 0.7 miles and Sugarloaf Trail at 2.8 miles.

Around this trail

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

    Poke-O-Moonshine Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.5 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsStorylanding, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Shelburne Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 14 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Storylanding, CC0 (commons)

More in South Burlington
  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Poke-O-Moonshine Main Face

    Best months: May–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

      29° / 11°

    2. Feb

      31° / 12°

    3. Mar

      39° / 22°

    4. Apr

      54° / 34°

    5. May

      66° / 46°

    6. Jun

      76° / 56°

    7. Jul

      80° / 61°

    8. Aug

      79° / 59°

    9. Sep

      71° / 52°

    10. Oct

      58° / 41°

    11. Nov

      46° / 31°

    12. Dec

      35° / 21°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Willsboro 1 N, NY, 6.2 mi away at 180 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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.

Routes (85)

Certified Raw5.10Son of Slime5.10-Ragtime5.10+Arch CrackFA: Patrick Munn, Dominic Eisinger--20025.10aScallionFA: Drew Allan, Pat Munn and Mark Meschinelli, 9/805.10aUkiahFA: Geoff Smith and Mark Meschinelli '775.10aAncient of Days5.10bCooney-Norton5.10bFreedom FlightFA: Geoff Smith, Dave Hough Sept. '765.10bHome RuleFA: July 1992, Patrick Purcell, Bill Dodd5.10bIt Don't Come Easy5.10bLex LutherFA: Dominic Eisinger, Dave Hough, Geoff Smith5.10bLost Chance aka The Natural5.10bPandemoniumFA: Denis Luther & James Debella 20075.10bThe Fastest GunFA: Geoff Smith and Dick Bushey, 1/77 (p.1 & 2) Jim Dunn, 1978 (p.3 & 4)5.10bThe Snatch5.10bTime JumpersFA: Dave Hough, Dominic Eisinger5.10bSon of a MotherFA: June 18, 1989, Dennis Luther, Tom Rosencrans5.10b/cC-TipsFA: Patrick Purcell, Mark Meschinelli5.10cCosmopolitan WallFA: Gary Allan, Geoff Smith and Dave Hough, 19755.10cMaestroFA: Julien Dery, 19875.10cMayflowerFA: 2003 Meschinelli, Johnston, Munn, Eisinger5.10cStatic ClingFA: Dennis Luther, Kevin Boyle, Jay Kullman June 30, 20005.10cAutumn Flare5.10dMenace To SobrietyFA: Oct. 9, 1995--Charles Pechousek, Bob Cartwright5.10dMorning StarFA: 2002 Pat Munn, Donimic Eisinger5.10dThunderheadFA: Gary Allen, Dave Hough Sep '785.10dUnder the InfluenceFA: Sep 5, 2009 - Bill Dodd, Chris Hyson, Nick Wakeman5.10dBorderlineFA: 2004 Pat Munn, Mark Meschinelli5.11Firing LineFA: Jim Dunn, Geoff Smith and Gary Allan 19775.11La SpiraleFA: Aug, 1987, Gelu Ionescu, Pierre Gagnon5.11-Pilgrim's ProgressFA: (complete) Patrick Munn, Dominic Eisinger5.11+The GatheringFA: Patrick Munn and Dominic Eisinger, September 19935.11+BastardFA: Dennis Luther, Joe Szot, Jul 19885.11aCasual ObserverFA: Dave Furman, July 20015.11aSmear CampaignFA: Aug., 2002 Mark Meschinelli, Dominic Eisinger5.11aEarthly NightFA: Patrick Munn, Dominic Eisinger-- 20025.11bForeplayFA: Dennis Luther, Dave Szot, Joe Szot, Tom Yandon-June '925.11bGod's Grace (Pure and Simple)FA: Patrick Munn and Dave Hough, Oct 5, 19965.11bGrapes of Wrath5.11bKarmic KickbackFA: Gary Allen, Patrick Munn 8/915.11bMachoFA: Julien Dery, 6/7/865.11bVerdonFA: Julien Déry, Pierre Gagnon, November 1, 19875.11bBushido5.11cHang 'Em HighFA: Patrick Munn and Mark Meschinelli, 7/035.11cShark WeekFA: FFA: Hobey Walker, Dave Furman Sep.19965.11cAir MaleFA: Dennis Luther, Kevin Boyle August 17, 20005.11dGun Control Now5.11dSouthern Hospitality p1FA: Geoff Smith, Gary Allen, Drew Allen5.11dKeep Off FlakeFA: FA using Aid: Peter and Charles Pechousek, June '96 FFA: Jon Clark and Edek Falkowski 10/24/215.12Extreme UnctionFA: FA-Patrick Munn, Dominic Eisinger Sep '93 FFA p2-Travis Peckham, Nancy Koenig Peckham '985.12-Munchky MicroareteFA: Patrick Munn and Domenic Eisinger 20035.12aSummer Break5.12aThe RaptureFA: Dominic Eisinger, Patrick Munn--20025.12aPsalm 32FA: Patrick Munn and Dominic Eisinger, summer '945.12a/bCalvary HillFA: Patrick Munn, Dominic Eisinger, Mark Meschinelli '915.12bPentecostalFA: Gary Allan, August 19925.12cRaptor's ScreamFA: Patrick Munn, 19935.12cThe HowlingFA: Dave Lanman, June 19885.12cSalad DaysFA: Dave Lanman 19885.13aThe SnakeFA: 1957 John Turner, John Brett5.4Junior Varsity5.5Chik'n GarbonzoFA: Eric Bretthauer/Samantha Bretthauer5.6Puppies on EdgeFA: Patrick Purcell, Andy Morcillino Sept. 17, 19905.6Ladder5.7PillarFA: Geoff Smith, Gary Allan, Dave Hough5.7The FMFA: John Turner & Hugh Tanton5.7+Discord5.8Green OnionFA: 1977--Geoff Smith, Patrick Munn5.8Snake SlideFA: Geoff Smith5.8Sunburst Arete5.8VarsityFA: Plattsburg State Climbing Club (2003)5.8GamesmanshipFA: John Turner, Brian Rothery, and Wilfried Twelker, 19595.8+P.T. PillarFA: Dave Hough and Geoff Smith, 5/785.8+Paralysis5.8+The StingFA: Geoff Smith, Gary Allan, Dave Hough, 8/755.8+7 year itchFA: Jake Hadden/Eric Bretthauer5.9Group TherapyFA: Dennis Luther, Fred Schaefer July 20, 20025.9PsychosisFA: Claude Lavallee & John Turner FFA: Jim McCarthy & Richard Goldstone5.9RaindanceFA: Dave Hough, Geoff Smith, Patrick Munn5.9Smallville LeftFA: Mark Meschinelli, Patrick Munn, Dave Hough 8/135.9Bloody MaryFA: John Turner, Dick Strachan, and Dick Wilmott 19595.9+CirrhosisFA: Dick Williams and Dave Loeks, early 1970s5.9+Phase IIIFA: FA Pat Munn and Dave Hough, 7/75 FFA Gary Allan, Tom Schwarm, and Dave Hough5.9+The Great DihedralFA: Richard Goldstone and Ivan Rezucha 7/19765.9+

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