New York · Rock climbing · North Hudson · Near Schroon Lake

Sweet Fern Hill

5 routes
5.7 – 5.9
Trad · Sport
May–Oct
best months

Sweet Fern Hill is a rock climbing area in New York's Hammond Pond Wild Forest, managed by the State Department of Conservation. It sits among a cluster of forest trails and climbing spots in the northeast corner of the state, about 3.8 miles from Sharp Bridge Campground and 4.8 miles from Left End. The area has five named climbing routes, three of them trad and two sport, with grades ranging from 5.7 to 5.9. Toads Where They Don't Belong is the easiest at 5.7, and Roy Batty is the hardest at 5.9. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Cornwall, Vermont, show July highs around 80°F and September highs near 71°F, with winter highs in the 20s and regular snow days from December through February. Several other trails lie within a few miles. Moose Mountain Pond trail is half a mile away, and Howard and Munson Ponds path is about 2 miles off. Paddlers can reach The Branch, about 9 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Sharp Bridge Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Paradox Brewery

    Brewery

    On your way back · 5 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Schroon Lake view

    Viewpoint

    On your way back · 10 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Schroon Lake
  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Sweet Fern Hill

    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

      27° / 9°

      11 wet · 8 snow

    2. Feb

      30° / 10°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    3. Mar

      40° / 20°

      9 wet · 4 snow

    4. Apr

      54° / 33°

      10 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      67° / 45°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 54°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 60°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 57°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 49°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 38°

      12 wet

    11. Nov

      44° / 28°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      33° / 18°

      12 wet · 6 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cornwall, VT, 22.1 mi away at 345 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.