New York City Climbing

As our world becomes more populated and hectic we often seek to flee the cities in search of a bit of rock tucked away somewhere quiet. Bouldering in Manhattan proves that sometimes you don't need to leave the city but rather go in deeper. There are about 850 documented problems from V0 to V13 from Central Park in Manhattan to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The metamorphosed gritty schist provides a wide variety of interesting bouldering that crops up next to busy streets but is also found tucked away in a quiet little section of some of the parks.

Most people who boulder in NYC will head straight to Rat Rock as it is the most famous but there are many hidden gems scattered throughout the city. In fact many consider Slingblade in Van Cortlandt Park to be the single best problem in NYC. 

Until recently, many of the parks were technically closed to bouldering. We all owe a huge thanks to Fred Polvere who worked to get bouldering approved by the New York City Parks (NYCP) with the exception of Fort Tryon. Most of the bouldering at Fort Tryon is located off the paved trail system but it is the narrow walkways hemmed in by a stonewall on one side and the boulder on the other. The problems on the Life is Beautiful boulder are closed and should be avoided while Fred is working to get this park open as well.

Access Fund: NYC Parks Open to Bouldering

Guidebooks: There are two available guides NYC Bouldering by Gaz Leah from Sharpend Books and New York City Bouldering by Conor O'Hale and Sam Lerner Dreamer, produced by Gunks Apps.

NYC Bouldering contains 280 problems in the following parks: Central Park, Morningside Park, St Nicholas Park, High Bridge Park, Loony Bin, Harlem River Park, Fort Tryon Park, Inwood Hill Park, Van Cortlandt Park

New York City Bouldering (Gunks Apps) contain 850 problems in the same parks listed above but also includes Marcus Garvey Park, Jackie Robinson Park, Fort Washington Park, Macombs Dam Park, University Ave boulders (a boulder in Highbridge Bronx), Echo Park, Walter Gladwin Park, Crotona Park, Spuyten Duyvil, Norwood, Riverdale, Van Cortlandt Park, Seton Falls Park, Pelham Bay Park and Giant Rock (the only sizable boulder in Queens or Brooklyn) with more to come.

2017 Available for $24.99 on iOS and Android from New York City Bouldering, Gunks Apps

2013  Available for $22 from Sharpend Books and local climbing shops. New York City Bouldering

1988 Mostly for historical context this early guide gives a great look into the early days of Central Park Bouldering.

Nicolas Falacci Online Guide