Pennsylvania · Rock climbing · Portersville

Island Block

Island BlockPhoto: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
16 routes
5.4 – 5.12a
Top Rope · Bouldering · Trad
Aug–Sep
best months

Island Block is a climbing area in Pennsylvania, sitting right next to the town of McConnells Mill, about a tenth of a mile away. It is one of several climbing spots clustered in this corner of the state, with Rappel Rock, Sunshine Wall and Rim Road Climbing Area all within a short distance. The area offers a range of climbing styles, including bouldering, top rope and trad. There are 16 routes in total, with grades from about 5.4 to 5.12a on the YDS scale and from V0 to V4 on the V scale. Among the top rope routes are Acrobat at 5.6 and Mission Impossible at 5.10d, and the bouldering includes routes graded up to V4. For a change from the rock, the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail (NCT) passes about a tenth of a mile away, and the North Country Trail lies roughly 2.5 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Aug–Sep

    Best time to visit Island Block

    Best months: August–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

      33° / 17°

      16 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 18°

      14 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 25°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      59° / 35°

      14 wet

    5. May

      69° / 45°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      77° / 54°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 58°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 56°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 50°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      61° / 39°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 31°

      13 wet

    12. Dec

      38° / 23°

      15 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Slippery Rock 1 Ssw, PA, 9.2 mi away at 1,260 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (16)