Rhode Island Climbing

Rhode Island might be the smallest state in the union, but it has plenty to offer climbing wise if you are a fan of its more diminutive form. There is a well developed bouldering community here, with the main focus being Lincoln Woods State Park, just north west of Providence. Being close to the city and its numerous colleges, the boulders and ledges of the 600+ acre park have been climbed on extensively since the early 70s. The quality, number of routes and fact that it is often free of snow when other places are covered means frequent visitors from the neighboring states as well, all who have helped add lines and upped the grades. There are hundreds of established lines, currently up to V13-14.

Less well known, smaller, but sometimes high quality areas are scattered around the state, mostly in the western half, in the various management areas. If you want to take a break from the somewhat urban experience of Lincoln Woods and maybe find some new lines, exploring these other areas is recommended. There are gems out there in the State Management areas, like the excellent Lost Boulder in the Arcadia Management Area, new finds at Beach Pond on the RI/CT border, and a few prized boulders at Black Hut, Rockville and Wickaboxet. The newly accessible Rocky Point bouldering is becoming popular with its overhanging good quality rock.

There is not much for roped climbing. Unfortunately, the best areas for that have been closed, like Diamond Hill and Long Pond. There is a bit of top roping and short trad leads available on the ledges of Durfee Hill, Snake Den, Mt. Tom and Breakheart Ledge (Arcadia), Beach Pond and Wickaboxet. Beach Pond has a handful of recently bolted easy sport climbs. For nearby, more extensive roped climbing, you are usually better off heading over the border to Connecticut or Mass.