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Elevation: 95 ft 29 m
GPS: 41.39189, -72.09896
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 12,398 total · 163/month
Shared By: Davis Badger on Nov 6, 2018 · Updates
Admins: Morgan Patterson
Warning Access Issue: Area Located on Connecticut College Property DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Mamacoke Island is a tidal island (only fully separated from the mainland during extremely high tides) with an array of large gneiss (ancient metamorphic) walls to be explored. Many of these walls can be bouldered, however, some of the higher faces (particularly the Main Wall on the south-western part of the island) could be dangerous to attempt without a rope. THERE IS NO FIXED PROTECTION ON THIS ISLAND, with only a few spots for some decent cam placements on the Main Mama Wall. The tops of all of the cliffs can be accessed by walking around the footpath to the eastern side of the island and then scrambling up a few slabs to reach the upper plateau. Reasonably safe top ropes can be set up using the trees at the top of the cliffs. As of now many of the particular boulders and routes on the walls are unnamed, and undeveloped, but my hope is that by adding this here we can bring some more attention to this hidden gem in the Thames River.

Getting There Suggest change

From Hwy 32, turn onto Benham Ave. (right if coming north, left if coming south), near the bottom of the large hill there is a small gravel pullout to park BEFORE the train tracks (appox. 41.386593, -72.100566). Continue north along the train tracks on foot until a small trail leads off the right side onto the salt marsh. Continue on the path across the marsh until you enter some small shrubs, the path then splits. Take the left trail to access The Wedding Cake, or the right trail to access the Main Mama Wall and South Wall or East End Boulder. The trail makes a complete loop around the island. (NOTE: the salt marsh is almost always out of the water, but can be a little muddy around high tide)

14 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Mamacoke Island

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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