Moss Cliff Rock Climbing

Access note: fording Ausable River to access cliff is necessary. There is a tyrolean cable in place currently (9/12/21); also check for seasonal peregrine closures.

Moss Cliff--a 500 foot shield of bullet-proof anorthosite that sits atop Wilmington Notch overlooking Route 86 and the Ausable River. Although this cliff is situated less than a mile from the climbers lot, it's committing reputation is rivaled by few other crags in the Adirondacks due to its surprising remoteness and sheer faces.

Many stellar lines soar up the numerous cracks of this cliff, and most recently, the hardest lines in the Adirondacks--Illuminescence (13d) and Fire in the Sky (13c)--were unlocked here. Routes such as Hard Times (5.9+), A Touch of Class (5.9+), and Creation of the World (5.11), stand testament to the varied and unique beauty of long, free routes in the Adirondacks.

If it is your first visit to the cliff, don't underestimate it -- this is not a cliff to be toyed with. Many of the routes are stout and require climbers to top out. This makes for a true adventure, as the rap station is on the far left (climbers' left) end of the cliff hidden in a gully and guarded by a treacherous bushwhack.

Make sure you get an early start, and be sure to check for closures, as this cliff is closed for a good portion of the spring and summer months for peregrine nesting.