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| Elevation: | 1,161 ft | 354 m |
| GPS: |
44.24943, -70.96502 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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| Page Views: | 58,136 total · 348/month | |
| Shared By: | John Halupowski on Sep 16, 2011 · Updates | |
| Admins: | Ladd Raine, Jonathan S, Robert Hall, Chris Duca |
Access Issue: Peregrine Falcons in Maine
Details
To learn more about peregrines in Maine, check out this link: maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife…
Current (2025) raptor closure information can be attained by reaching out to Chris Duca (christopherduca@gmail.com), or by following The Stewards of Western Maine Climbing Instagram site (@_swmc_)
There are active nests on the following cliffs in Western Maine:
- Shagg Crag
- Bear Mountain
- Tumbledown Mtn. (Weld)
Access Issue: BOTH the trails and the cliffs are on private property. Please "go lightly" and read the details.
Details
It's surrounded by W.M.N.F but the Shell Pond Crags are located on private property subject to a conservation easement held by Greater Lovell Land Trust. The owners and easement holders of the property have been gracious enough to allow climbing to occur on their land, but access is not guaranteed in the future. If you show up and there are numerous cars in the parking lot consider climbing at other nearby Evan’s Notch locations
Description
Shell Pond is overlooked by a group of high-quality, single pitch, south-west facing schist cliffs. It's in a beautiful semi-secluded area located in Stow Maine, east of N. Chatham N.H. and south of Evans Notch. It's surrounded by W.M.N.F but Shell Pond Crag is located on private property subject to a conservation easement held by Greater Lovell Land Trust. The owners and easement holders of the property have been gracious enough to allow climbing to occur on their land, but access is not guaranteed in the future. If you show up and there are numerous cars in the parking lot consider climbing at other nearby Evan’s Notch locations, information about these areas can be found in North Conway Rock Climbs by Jerry Handren.
There are presently two cliffs developed, the Family Wall and the upper tier of the High Meadow Wall (aka the Main Cliff).
The Family Wall is an 80' steep slab with routes 5.5-5.11 trad and sport. A 60 meter rope will work for top-roping off the cliff's top trees. Descent is a trail on climbers left. Due to low visitor use, some routes could use a wire brush.
The High Meadow Wall (Main Cliff) is vertical to overhanging sport routes in the 5.10-5.12 range. Most of the routes do not go to the top of the cliff, so top-roping is difficult. Routes have 2 bolt anchors, a 60 meter rope will work on most raps, a 70 meter on all (remember to knot your rope ends). Some routes can be climbed on rainy days.
The lower tier has sunny ice climbs in the winter.
Getting There
There are two ways to approach off NH Rt 113, either by Deer Hill Rd (shortest walk but seasonally gated) or by Stone House Rd. They both have road name signs.
Deer Hill Rd approach to Family Wall and High Meadow Wall (Main Cliff):
Drive 30 minutes north from N Conway/Fryeburg toward Evans Notch on Rt 113 to Deer Hill Rd on the right (Summit Achievement sign at road head). Drive 3.8 miles on Deer Hill Rd to a small pull off on the left. Walk 50 yds to start of Shell Pond Trail.
Family Wall approach:
Follow Shell Pond trail for 10-15 minutes until you come to Family Wall's faint climbers trail on your right (there may be a cairn), walk uphill 10 minutes to cliff.
High Meadow Wall (Main Cliff) approach:
Continue on Shell Pond Trail for another 10 minutes and look for a less faint climbers trail on you right. 10 steep minutes uphill to upper tier of cliff. If you come to where an ATV bridge crossed a stream but has been washed out you've walked a little too far.
Stone House Rd approach to Upper Meadow Wall (Main Cliff) and Family Wall:
Continue north on Rt 113 1.1 miles past Bald Face parking lot to Stone House Rd on right (0.9 miles south of Basin Pond road on left). Follow Stone House Rd a short distance and take a right at T intersection. Continue on main road until you reach a gate closure at 1.1 miles and parking lot. Walk past gate toward Stone House. Don't take first Shell Pond Trail on right but continue on road past White Cairn Trail and Stone House Trail on your left to a LARGE field/landing strip on the right side of road near the Stone House. Walk the road in the middle of the field (avoiding the Stone House and being low key) for a beautiful half mile (Upper Meadow Wall will come into sight high on left ridge) until you come to where an ATV bridge has been washed out. Cross upstream rock jumping where the ATVs now cross and connect back with the Shell Pond Trail.
Upper Meadow Wall (Main Cliff) approach:
Go right after crossing stream above washed out bridge another few minutes to a faint climbers trail on you left. A steep 10 minutes uphill brings you to the upper tier.
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Family Wall approach:
Continue on Shell Pond trail another 10-15 minutes (left at fork)and look for faint climbers trail on your left. 10 minutes uphill and you're at the Family Wall.
Classic Climbing Routes at Shell Pond
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