Climbing Near Bridgeport, Connecticut

A slab wall with interesting crack features, hidden in the trees around Lake Mohegan. This is mainly a hiking area and can be busy with people walking their dogs or fishing. There is more potential here but the rock can be wet and mossy.There are some bouldering areas around a with a little use, but there are no real signs of anyone climbing this cliff. The top can be accessed from hiking around either side, and 2 big trees at the top make for good anchors.There are no signs or rules against climbing here, but many people hike through here and will see you climbing, so be smart. Leave no trace, clean your trash, keep noise levels down, etc..  Park in the Lake Mohegan beach lot and follow the trail down the east side of the lake. Take the uphill for ll to the right and you’ll arrive at the cliff.

Samp Mortar is the small town park located at the end of Springer Rd in Fairfield, CT. The rock is schist and there are many good problems and variation located in this bouldering area. Along the walk into Samp Mortar you will find at the top of the hill just before the boulder field, the aboriginal quartz quarry. Hike up over the hill, past the aboriginal quartz mine, and down into the glen with the large boulders.

The bouldering here is located across two different town parks, Samp Mortar Rock & Mountain Laurel Park. Folks have been bouldering at the two parks for at least two decades possibly even longer. Originally, the Samp Mortar was used by aboriginal groups as a quartz quarry, the remnants of which are visible on the walk into the Samp Mortar area. Tucked away below a broken schist cliffband is a pile of 5 or so large blocks. These blocks have a large variety of problems on them ranging from V0-V11/V12, from 1 move wonders to huge High Balls. Mt. Laurel Park is located on the other end of the cliff band and hosts several great climbs from V0-V10. The landings and problems in this area are not quite as good as the Samp Mortar side but still quite worthy. The cliff band that connects these two areas is very intriguing with many unique features and probably the largest hueco in Connecticut but offers little in the way of safe climbing as the schist has a high mica content and tends to just crumbles away. There is a very unique 30ft horizontal roof here which may have a route or two on it but it looks as if it one day could collapse (probably won't though). There is a small alcove in between the two areas that has had some development with a nice arete climb, a great moderate HB face climb, and some low ball problems as well as a larger overhanging face of high quality rock with only a few problems. SAMP MORTAR: From the Merritt Parkway: 1. Get off exit 44 2. Travel south on the Black rock Turnpike 3. Take right on Samp Mortar Dr 4. Take your first right onto Springer Rd 5. Follow to the end of the road just before dead end is the park entrance. From 95: 1. Get off exit 24 2. Travel North on the Black rock Turnpike 3. Take left on Samp Mortar Dr 4. Take your first right onto Springer Rd 5. Follow to the end of the road just before dead end is the park MOUNTAIN LAUREL 1. Turn onto Springer Rd and turn left onto Mountain Laurel Rd. 2. Continue straight past a large slab on your right. 3. Proceed 100 yrds further and look for a parking on your right.