New York · Rock climbing · Red House

Thunder Rocks

Thunder RocksPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
5 routes
V0 – V2-
Bouldering
Jun–Sep
best months

Thunder Rocks is a bouldering area in Allegany State Park in New York, managed by State Park and Recreation. It sits among the park's climbing destinations, and the routes here are all boulders, which makes it a compact, grade-focused stop for climbers who want to warm up or target a specific level. The climbing at Thunder Rocks is straightforward. Five bouldering routes are listed, with grades ranging from V0 to V2-. The Warmup Traverse is the easiest at V0, and Nosism is the hardest at V2-. That range puts the area at the lower end of the bouldering scale, so it works well for climbers looking to practice technique or build strength before moving to more demanding problems. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 79°F with lows near 56°F, and September highs around 71°F. That station sits about 770 feet lower than the park's highest points, so temperatures on the rock itself run cooler. Other climbing is close by, including The Bear Caves and Welcome Boulder, both within about 5 miles. For time off the rocks, Old Thunder Run offers cross-country skiing and Ridge Run Trail offers hiking, both within 4 miles.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Thunder Rocks

    Best months: June–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.

    1. Jan

      32° / 15°

      17 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 15°

      14 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 21°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      56° / 32°

      13 wet

    5. May

      68° / 43°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 52°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 56°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 55°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 48°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 38°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 30°

      14 wet

    12. Dec

      36° / 22°

      16 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Allegany Sp, NY, 4.8 mi away at 1,500 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.

Routes (5)