Elevation: 827 ft
GPS: 42.53504, -72.48794
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Liam Andrews on Dec 29, 2013 · Updates
Admins: sara pax, Old Timer, jim.dangle, Joe M

Description

The Happy Valley and The Hideaway are two bouldering areas located in close proximity to each other. The rock is slightly crumbly gneiss; however, most holds are very solid. Most problems tend to be very fingery and the best climbs are V5 or above; however, there are many climbs at lower grades. Due to their hard to find nature, the areas tend to be fairly uncrowded, especially the Happy Valley.

Video (This shows most of the climbs at the Happy Valley)
vimeo.com/41614579.

Getting There

Park at the end of Dry Hill Road in Montague, and hike in on confusing trails. It is best to go with someone who has been, but here is my best shot at describing the directions.

For either, start by hiking downwards on the main trail from the parking. This trail is not the dirt road that continues in the same direction as the road; it is off to the right from the parking lot (assuming you're facing the direction you were driving).

Follow this trail as it crosses several streams. This trail will end at a T intersection; take a left (south) at this T which will soon take you through a meadow. Shortly after you leave the meadow, you'll get to a fork in the trail; take a right (west) at this fork (there is probably a cairn here). After a little while, you'll get to an intersection where another trail comes in from your left and merges with this trail; continue straight/slightly right on your current trail. At the next fork in the trail, take a left. Follow this trail uphill, which will bring you past some cool looking cliffbands on your right.

Right as you see Warm-up Arete to your right and ahead of you, there is a fork in the trail. The obvious trail that continues right/straight takes you through the Hideaway. The less obvious trail to your left takes you to the Happy Valley. The trail to the Happy Valley is sometimes difficult to follow; it is helpful to use GPS here. The Happy Valley is at 42.53651, -72.49228 and is pretty much due southeast of the aforementioned fork.

The rakkup guidebook has a very good trail map of the area with GPS functionality.

The New England Bouldering guidebook offers a confusing description of how to get to both areas, but it is certainly better than blindly searching in the woods. It is about 15 minutes to each area and about 10 minutes between the two.

56 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Happy Valley and The Hideaway

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1 5
 21
Bulldozer Slab
Boulder
V2 5+
 22
Warm-up Arete
Boulder
V3 6A
 11
The Beanstalk
Boulder
V4 6B
 7
Chalking the Ham
Boulder
V4-5 6B+
 10
Wrestling the Goat (not a traverse)
Boulder
V5 6C
 51
For the Rest of Us
Boulder
V5 6C
 18
The Sleeping Giant
Boulder
V6 7A
 22
The Pocket Problem
Boulder
V7 7A+
 26
Tips Ahoy (submitted as Tips Away)
Boulder
V7 7A+
 14
All the Way
Boulder
V7-8 7B
 10
Little Debbie
Boulder
V9- 7C
 18
Competitive Urge
Boulder
V10 7C+
 11
Y2K9
Boulder
V10 7C+
 5
Press Your Luck
Boulder
V11 8A
 7
Sister's Savior
Boulder
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Bulldozer Slab Hideaway > Warm Up Area
 21
V1 5 Boulder
Warm-up Arete Hideaway > Warm Up Area
 22
V2 5+ Boulder
The Beanstalk Happy Valley > Sleeping Giant Boulder
 11
V3 6A Boulder
Chalking the Ham Hideaway > Left Cliff Band (Y2K9…
 7
V4 6B Boulder
Wrestling the Goat (not a t… Hideaway > Left Cliff Band (Y2K9…
 10
V4-5 6B+ Boulder
For the Rest of Us Hideaway > Millenium Boulder
 51
V5 6C Boulder
The Sleeping Giant Happy Valley > Sleeping Giant Boulder
 18
V5 6C Boulder
The Pocket Problem Hideaway > Millenium Boulder
 22
V6 7A Boulder
Tips Ahoy (submitted as Tip… Hideaway > Millenium Boulder
 26
V7 7A+ Boulder
All the Way Hideaway > Millenium Boulder
 14
V7 7A+ Boulder
Little Debbie Happy Valley > Sleeping Giant Boulder
 10
V7-8 7B Boulder
Competitive Urge Happy Valley > Sleeping Giant Boulder
 18
V9- 7C Boulder
Y2K9 Hideaway > Left Cliff Band (Y2K9…
 11
V10 7C+ Boulder
Press Your Luck Happy Valley > Magic Bean Boulder
 5
V10 7C+ Boulder
Sister's Savior Happy Valley > Sleeping Giant Boulder
 7
V11 8A Boulder
More Classic Climbs in Happy Valley and The Hideaway »

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