Climbing Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Although obviously not known for it, Southwestern Pennsylvania has quite a few areas for ice climbing. The season maybe more than a little spotty, but the cold snaps that we experience, particularly in January and February, often make ice climbing very feasible. The particularly unique cut-banks along our rivers (some reaching almost 1000 feet in local relief) create a very good environment for the formation of ice climbs throughout the region. As this is a virtually overlooked facet of Pennsylvania climbing, any information on new areas is greatly appreciated. Mostly along the rivers of the area (Allegheny, Monongahela, and Youghiogheny)

Numerous structures (bridges pillars, retaining walls, etc.) are climbable, whether for bouldering or equipped for roped climbing, within Pittsburgh and surrounding neighborhoods. Because these structures are made from quarried stone that has been weathered over the years, the routes often climb like real rock, with the features being a combination of "real" rock features, seams between quarried blocks, and the distinctive rounded pockets created by the construction methods used to quarry the blocks. While formal talks are in place with the City of Pittsburgh and other land managers to secure formal permission for climbing in many of these areas, you should not assume that just because people are climbing anywhere in the city that it is legal.  As of winter 2022, there are 27 sport routes at Seldom Seen, 16 sport routes at Frank Curto Park (this is counting a Left and Right variation for each of 8 sets of anchors) and another 9 distinct routes on the abandoned pillar in Schenley Park.  A guide for the routes at Seldom Seen can be purchased at Ascend, and there is good information on the routes at Schenley Park and Frank Curto here on Mountain Project.  Please be on the lookout for a new guide to Frank Curto Park all proceeds which will help support our efforts to Climb Pittsburgh!

For several decades Pittsburgh rock climbers have been discreetly climbing on the back side of the retaining walls of Frank Curto Park in Polish Hill. This wall sits high above the Allegheny River and The Strip District below, roughly across from the Heinz Factory on the North Shore, in a unique and remarkable urban greenspace less than 3 miles from the Cultural District of Downtown Pittsburgh. In recent years, individuals from the climbing community have worked together to replace the aging hardware on the routes at Frank Curto as well as dozens of other “secret” routes at several urban crags throughout the city.  Please note that the installation of the new hardware was NOT done by either SWPACC nor the City of Pittsburgh but by countless climbers from the region who were committed to more fully developing our local climbing resources.  Shortly after the refurbishment of all of these routes, SWPACC reached out to City of Pittsburgh officials to discuss our ambitious “Climb Pittsburgh” project of partnering with the city to responsibly promote these resources and assist in their safest access and most sustainable use.  Among SWPACC/Climb Pittsburgh’s early successes was obtaining permission from the Department of Public Works in September of 2022 to clean up the sloped, muddy, weed-covered hillside beneath the routes at Frank Curto from where folks were trying to belay. Together with support from The Access Fund, SWPACC volunteers were able to level the belay area, build a retaining wall and then bring in tons of gravel that was spread at the base of the wall to provide a flat, clean and safe area from which to belay.  SWPACC/Climb Pittsburgh is extremely proud of the upgrade of this resource and encourages climbers to visit the park and enjoy eight different routes that can all be be led with six quick draws or top-roped with two. The routes are all in the (old school :) 5.9 range and are 35' tall.  These are the same sandstone blocks that you will find on many of the retaining walls and bridge pillars throughout the city including other urban climbing venues like The Arena, Seldom Seen, and The Pillar at Schenley Park.  The blocks are very featured with a variety of crimps, side pulls and textured slopers and all of these routes climb very much like vertical routes you would find on your favorite natural rock faces. Unlike Seldom Seen, these routes are not manky or dirty and they dry quickly after a rain. They are a must for folks wanting to sample a taste of urban climbing in one of our most beautiful and underutilized green spaces that is a few miles from downtown Pittsburgh. This is a true hidden gem! Frank Curto Park is in the Polish Hill section of Pittsburgh on top of The Strip District and overlooks the Allegheny River in the vicinity of the historic Heinz Factory.  Driving from the East, you would cross the Bloomfield Bridge and make a right on Bigelow Boulevard. Continue for a few minutes and pass through the five way intersection w Herron at the top of Polish Hill.  About 1 mi further is the park on your right.  Go slow and be careful not to miss the barely noticeable dirt “driveway” into the park.  If you miss that you will be forced to do a 25 minute correction.  Once in the park you will drive parallel to Bigelow Boulevard in the direction toward town.  Pass the French Fry art installation and continue for another 200 yards.  Park next to the three foot retaining wall on the right.  The routes are on the backside of this wall.  Access will be obvious.     There are eight bolted lines here that each has its own set of anchors. If you use the best holds under each set of anchors you can keep all of these routes in the 5.9 range. However, there is also much fun to be had by doing left or right variations for each set of anchors in which case you can easily enjoy 5.10 and 5.11 sequences.  The top anchors for all of the routes can be reached by leaning over the wall and can thus be top-roped easily if you have 2 quick draws for each route. If top roping, you will want to lower off of your draws (there are no chains or mussy hooks) and then simply walk to the top of the wall and reach over to retrieve your draws when done.