Access Issue: As of November 2021, there are new parking arrangements. Please follow this guidance.
Details
These top-notch short intermediate climbs make for a splendid afternoon's worth of steep and technical climbing. Natural protection options are very limited, but a long static line will allow you to top-rope these brainy and rewarding climbs.
Remember those luggage holds you think only exist in the gym? Well, you can find them here!
Puzzle Palace crag is at (GPS latitude longitude approx N41.1455 W74.1645)
From parking on Torne Valley Rd, go first to the Tower Wall (GPS lat long ~ N41.1450 W74.1652), then walk ENE roughly flat 360 feet (110 meters). Then at (N41.1454 W74.1641) just before the trail curves right down steep, turn off Left onto a steep loose trail. Scramble up this 130 feet (40 meters) NorthWest then West to the base of Puzzle Palace (N41.14545 W74.16445).
Or perhaps easier (if the less-used dirt roads are not too overgrown with vegetation) is to reach Puzzle Palace without first going to Tower Wall:
From the main Powerlinez trailhead on Torne Brook Rd (GPS latitude longitude approx N41.14227 W74.16227), walk the main gentle dirt road 0.25 mile / 400 meters (past the turnoff for Tower Wall and Basilisk) farther North toward the electric power substation to a junction at (N41.1462 W74.1619). At this junction turn sharp Left and walk SouthWest gentle up another dirt road about 550 ft / 170 meters. Turn Right (NorthWest) and hike steep up another dirt road about 125 ft / 40 meters. Just after this road curves left (west), turn off Right onto a steep loose trail. Scramble up this 130 feet (40 meters) NorthWest then West to the base of Puzzle Palace (N41.14545 W74.16445).
Estimating: About +210 vertical feet of uphill over about 0.5 mile distance (+63m vert over 0.8km). Typical approach times 12-25 minutes.
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Puzzle Palace crag is at (GPS latitude longitude approx N41.1455 W74.1645)
For detailed instructions, see on the Perched Ramparts section page mountainproject.com/v/n-per….
Or try these here below ...
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From parking on Torne Valley Rd, go first to the Tower Wall mountainproject.com/v/the-t… (GPS lat long ~ N41.1450 W74.1652), then walk ENE roughly flat 360 feet (110 meters). Then at (N41.1454 W74.1641) just before the trail curves right down steep, turn off Left onto a steep loose trail. Scramble up this 130 feet (40 meters) NorthWest then West to the base of Puzzle Palace mountainproject.com/v/puzzl… (N41.14545 W74.16445).
Or perhaps easier (if the less-used dirt roads are not too overgrown with vegetation) is to reach Puzzle Palace mountainproject.com/v/puzzl… without first going to Tower Wall:
From the main Powerlinez trailhead on Torne Brook Rd (GPS latitude longitude approx N41.14227 W74.16227), walk the main gentle dirt road 0.25 mile / 400 meters (past the turnoff for Tower Wall and Basilisk) farther North toward the electric power substation to a junction at (N41.1462 W74.1619). At this junction turn sharp Left and walk SouthWest gentle up another dirt road about 550 ft / 170 meters. Turn Right (NorthWest) and hike steep up another dirt road about 125 ft / 40 meters. Just after this road curves left (west), turn off Right onto a steep loose trail. Scramble up this 130 feet (40 meters) NorthWest then West to the base of Puzzle Palace mountainproject.com/v/puzzl… (N41.14545 W74.16445). If the steep trail is overgrown wiih prickers, could try going a little farther up the dirt road and turning off onto some steep rocke and scramble up those. Dec 12, 2015