Climbing Near Wilmington, DE

I'm thinking about paying my sister a visit out to Deleware in late Spring or early Summer. What is the closest climbing to Wilmington? I will just be staying for a weekend so I can't drive too far. Is there anything within a couple of hours? Thanks!

hmm. the whole driving thing thru me! I was going to suggest the Delaware water gap, Which is actually on the PA/Jersey Border. I used to drive thru there when I was living in NY on my way to the InLaws. Had a couple of friends who climbed there. From what I here it has a lot of loose rock. CHeck out Rt 80. There are other places to climb in PA that may be closer. Not sure of the quality. The cool thing about the Gap is that you can jump in the river after sweating your A&* off because of the humidity. Mosquitos too. There are a some posts in the Pennsylvania section. the map shows some stuff that looks closer.

I have also "climbed" along the Potomac River!! I put "climb" as in we could have just soloed the routes as they were max 30 ft(?) Yep that's right could see all of DC. Wasn't much fun though, but nostalgic and you have to time it right as if there is a lot of rain the river rises, the base of some of the climbs is under water. Not sure how far Seneca is. That's a strange place.

Too bad you can't make it to the Gunks or even better up to New Hampshire. MOst likely anywhere you go you are going to be sitting in traffic around there.

Have fun.

There is some bouldering to be found in Rockford State Park, off State Hwy. 52 in the Wilmington area. Directions and info can be found in the Falcon Press guidebook Rock Climbing New Jersey by Paul Nick and Neil Sloane.

Safe Harbour if it's open to climbing, Birdsboro, Ralph Stover/High Rocks Vista(visit New Hope, a very cool town on the Delaware), Haycock for bouldering. If you have more time The Gunks, Seneca, The New, Old Rag.

My checking says the closest trad and toprope is at rock state park near bel air, md. Which is about an hour. Birdsboro is 70 minutes north, near reading, pa. I know you don't go there anymore but you could check them out at rc.com.
If it happens let me know and I could meet you there.

I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and can say for certain that it is a lousy place for a climber to live. That said, there is some bouldering in Alapocas Woods in Wilmington. Brandywine Creek State Park has some boulders too. If you have had your tetanus shots, you can check out the boulders behind Rockford Tower (There is lots of broken glass). Don't expect to get more than 10 feet off of the ground in DE.

If you are only an hour from Rocks State Park, MD, then that would be worth a trip. It isn't much, but there are some worthwhile routes there. The rock is an interesting knobbly schist with great friction... and nice alternative to the slippery schist alongside the Potomac.

The area has one all-star route called Strawberry Jam. It is a handcrack splitting the steeply overhanging freestanding pinnacle. Despite the steepness, it goes at only 5.8...the jams are that good. It even feels fairly exposed, despite the length; it starts off of n airy ledge atop a steep 4th-class scramble. Definately the wildest single pitch 5.8 I've ever done. Not bad for Maryland.

Additionally, there are a number of worthwhile 70 to 90 foot topropes and leads just to the left of the abovementioned route; these are on the Breakaway Wall.

-Jon