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Elevation: 1,460 ft
GPS: 40.95962, -75.12864
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Ross Purnell on Apr 27, 2009
Admins: Justin Johnsen, SCPC, SWPACC, EPAC
Warning Access Issue: 2023 Seasonal Falcon Closure DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Mount Minsi and Mount Tammany (New Jersey) are the high points along a geologic formation called Kittatinny Ridge or the Kittatinny Mountains.

Minsi overlooks the Delaware Water Gap from the Pennsylvania side. The climbing is quite similar to that on Mount Tamany on the New Jersey side. Over 100 traditional routes exist here ranging from 5.0 to 5.12d, many with multiple pitches. Helmets are MANDATORY at the Gap!

The Metaquartzite east-facing cliffs of Mtount Minsi, ranging from 120 to 220 feet tall, provide the best multi-pitch climbing in PA. It's similar to the Gunks in some ways, but climbed much less, dirtier, and with more potential for loose rocks. Don't even approach the cliff base without a helmet.

Choose your route carefully. The "classics" are clean and solid because they are climbed. Some routes don't get much traffic and may be loose and dirty.

The guidebook Climbing Guide to the Delaware Water Gap by Michael Steele is long out of print, but available used at amazon.com and elsewhere.

Rock Climbing New Jersey (the FalconGuide) also has good route information.

There are no fees to climb here. There are intermittent closures in some cliff areas in the spring and early summer due to peregrine falcon nesting. Chck nps.gov for closures.

Getting There Suggest change

To climb the PA side of the gap, you want to be on I-80 (east or west) and take the exit for the town of Delaware Water Gap. From the townsite, stay on the west side of the river (Pennsylvania) and drive south on 611. Park at the roadside pullout on the right just past the "Point of Gap Overlook." There are two of these right-hand-side pullouts. Park at the second pullout on the right. There should be a clearly visible cave. It's called Cold Air Cave. Follow the blue trail markers from the right side of Cold Air Cave uphill in the trees along the right side of the scree slope. The blue trail ends at the cliff in an area called "The Practice Face."

66 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Mount Minsi

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 24
Surprise
Trad 2 pitches
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 5
Full Tilt
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b PG13
 30
Osprey
Trad 2 pitches
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 6
Drifting Arrow
Trad 3 pitches
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 4
Boca Roca Grande
Trad 2 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R
 8
Chieftain
Trad 2 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 5
High Falls
Trad 3 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13
 4
Point of No Return
Trad 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 12
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Trad, Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 5
Pain Builds Character
Trad 2 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 6
Pleasure Feeds Addiction
Trad 2 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 7
Sleeping Beauty
Trad, Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c PG13
 5
Voyage of the Damned
Trad 3 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Surprise f. Land of the Giants
 24
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad 2 pitches
Full Tilt j. Screaming Eagle Area
 5
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad
Osprey h. High Wall
 30
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b PG13 Trad 2 pitches
Drifting Arrow c. The Practice Face
 6
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
Boca Roca Grande m. Boca Roca Grande
 4
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 2 pitches
Chieftain f. Land of the Giants
 8
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R Trad 2 pitches
High Falls c. The Practice Face
 5
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 3 pitches
Point of No Return f. Land of the Giants
 4
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13 Trad 2 pitches
Snow White and the Seven Dw… h. High Wall
 12
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Sport
Pain Builds Character h. High Wall
 5
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
Pleasure Feeds Addiction h. High Wall
 6
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 2 pitches
Sleeping Beauty h. High Wall
 7
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, Sport
Voyage of the Damned f. Land of the Giants
 5
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c PG13 Trad 3 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Mount Minsi »

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