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Elevation: 346 ft
GPS: 41.14357, -74.16222
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 778,315 total · 5,941/month
Shared By: kenr on Jun 14, 2013 · Updates
Admins: Morgan Patterson, SMarsh
Warning Access Issue: As of November 2021, there are new parking arrangements. Please follow this guidance. DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

The largest rock climbing area within an hour's drive from New York City -- in the southwest corner of Harriman State Park. The rock of Powerlinez can easily be seen when driving north on the New York Thruway, just a couple miles north from the big interchange of routes 87 + 287 + 17 at the southern border of New York and New Jersey. It's big but it's not tall.  It has many interesting rocks for bouldering, but for rope-protected climbing the highest wall is about 80 feet. There are a couple of sectors higher than 50 feet, but most of the roped climbing cliffs are less than 50 feet tall -- good mostly for top-roping, but also some trad leading, and five short sport routes with bolts.

A Waiver must be completed (and renewed once a year) before climbing, but there is no fee. Rock is mainly granitic gneiss (hard metamorphic rock) or granite (or perhaps some different metamorphic rock up higher in the Books tier).  But while the rock is fundamentally hard, there had to be weaker parts to erode in order to form steep cliffs and positive holds for us to enjoy climbing -- so of course now some of the climbable rock is loose or breakable, especially as it's only starting to get climbed much - (If you don't want to deal with that, better wait a few years). This gneiss rock tends to have lots of interesting holds aimed in different directions -- and mostly high-friction (some would say "abrasive", or sometimes even "sharp") -- which together make for a high "density" of interesting climbing sequences.  

So

...Climbing ... it's easy to find sectors with lots of good Bouldering problems close together. And also ...

Top-Roping several interesting lines close together works for many of the sectors (using a top anchor with a static line cleverly arranged so it can be quickly moved from one climbing line to the next alongside).  From the work of setting up one route, you get to climb several short interesting lines - (which helps compensate for Powerlinez being not tall).

Leading: There are some nice single-pitch routes which can be protected with Trad equipment on the Tower Wall, also some shorter Trad-protectable routes in other sectors.

Bolts? There are five routes with some bolts at Powerlinez -- but these bolts and hangers (zinc-plated steel) were there already before the area was officially opened, and they are not inspected or maintained by the TVCC or the Park - (Concern that Powerlinez might be in high-corrosion region for steel: with acid rain from the west, and salt water 40 miles to south and east) - see more detail and discussion on The Good Book sector page.

Placement of new bolts or other permanent fixtures for protection or anchors is not permitted (as of 2017). See Comments below.

Required Waiver form: Before arriving at Powerlinez to climb, you need to obtain and submit a completed + signed Waiver of Liability form. Waivers are available online through the TVCC. The waiver also includes an overview of where you should park, where you can climb, and how to make sure that the area remains open to everyone.  The 2019 Waiver Form can be completed online here:

https://tornevalleyclimbers.com/climbing-at-the-powerlinez/

No fee to be paid for climbing at Powerlinez (as of 2017).

Administration by the Torne Valley Climbers Coalition (TVCC) [ on Facebook ]. It was thanks to the work of some present and former members of the TVCC that Powerlinez was officially opened for climbing in 2013. The TVCC administers climbing usage of the Powerlinez area under terms of use agreed with Harriman State Park.. . . While TVCC has the title of "coalition", as of 2017 it has no general members or annual dues or elections ... Only some sort of governing "Board". Let's be grateful they found an organizational approach that works for them, to keep climbing legal (and getting better) in one corner of Harriman State Park. Though you cannot "join" the TVCC on order to help and support Powerlinez climbing, at least you can "follow" on their Facebook page and join events and support actions that the TVCC Board announces.Undeveloped:

The current policy of the TVCC as of 2017 is that the climbing infrastructure remain undeveloped, except for some approved maintained trails to make it convenient to get access to potential climbing. No routes or bouldering problems have been designated as suitable for climbing by the TVCC. It is the responsibility of each climbing party to decide which areas or routes or problems might be suitable or safe for them to climb (perhaps getting advice from other sources). Also any rappel or top-rope anchor materials (slings or ropes or bolts, etc), or any bolts or other materials for protection partway up on a cliff, have not been approved by the TVCC, and are not maintained or inspected by the TVCC or by the Park - (and installation of new bolts is forbidden). It is the responsibility of each climbing party to decide whether or how to rely on any anchor or protection materials they find.Please access the boulders and roped-climbing sectors by using the TVCC-approved trails (marked usually with white diamonds or sometimes yellow paint), or using already-well-trodden paths, rather than creating some new way. As of 2017 TVCC does maintenance of the few approved marked trails once a year or so, but (in keeping with TVCC not being a real coalition) not much of the unofficial "herd" paths needed to reach many of the sectors. So be prepared to handle overgrown (sometimes prickly) vegetation obstructing access to your desired climbing sector.

Boundaries: The area of Harriman State Park which has been opened for rock climbing is called the "Wrightman plateau" on the southwest side of Ramapo Torne. Key point is that this does not include the Ramapo Torne peak itself. Any cliffs or rocks higher than the "Books Tier" are closed to climbing as of 2017 - (so the biggest most visible climbable rock in the area, around the summit of Ramapo Torne peak, is closed to climbing).. . (also there are some rocks below out west or south which are closed to climbing, because they are now outside Harriman Park).Guiding + Instruction ... More info - other sources ...

* The Powerlinez Beta Shed group on Facebook -- Helpful place to ask questions, get info about problems and routes.* Rakkup.com phone app -- Has more bouldering problems not yet easy to find elsewhere. For roped climbing, could be useful as a "second opinion" (and sometimes more helpful photos) for routes on MP, but as of 2017 has way fewer routes than here on MountainProject.* Jon Crefeld's print guidebook 2013 edition -- Key breakthrough for showing the early possibilities for bouldering and roped climbing, but so much has been discovered and opened since. Still has some problems not found elsewhere, and could be useful as a "second opinion" on problems + routes on MP or Rakkup.Areas + Sectors:. * Powerlinez Bouldering * .. - - > See the Bouldering section climbing .... . (sequence roughly low to high, left to right (E to W). . . . (aa. West End - CLOSED to climbing)a. Rock Dojo top-rope (just below Boulder Road). . . includes God Jam, West Terraceb. Swath (above right from the Boulder Road, below Tower Wall tier). . . includes Stockade, High Electricityc. Boulder Rd crags - along the road which rises up NW toward Basilisk.. . . includes Sunrise, Free-Fall.d. Swamp (below Yankee Ramparts and Revolutionary Ramparts). . . includes Swamp King, Jumble n Tumble, Snake Holef. Yankee Ramparts (westward extension of Revolutionary Ramparts). . . Party Wall, Vulnerability, Northwest Territories, C U P,. . . D J E A, Army Rampart, Smoke em if you Got em, Gut Truck.h. Revolutionary Ramparts (westward extension of Tower Wall Tier). . . includes Immelman,. . . Basilisk, and west Lenapehocking rocksk. Tower Wall area. . . Daves Wall, Three Bears, The Tower Wall, Happy Picnics, and. . . east Lenapehocking rocks Ramapaugh, Munseem. Picatinny. . . Manayunk, Tulpehocken, Scheyichbi, Nechtanc, Wichquawanckn. Perched Ramparts (half-way up and east from Tower Wall). . . Enclosure, Baldy, Albion, Shadow Castle, Devonshire, Jumble Hotel,. . . Puzzle Palacep. East End. . . El Cap, Giving Tree, Monkey Bar, Dragon, Nose, Beard, Ear,. . . Kitty Doll, Kitty Corners, Jersey Volunteers.q. Kittatinny (above Picatinny, below Books Tier, west from main trail to Good Book). . . includes Crazy Treer. High Northwest - (NW extension of Books Tier)s. Books Tier. . . Adventure Stories, Romance Novels, The Shelves, Top Shelf. . . The Good Book wall, Fairy Tales. . . Career Guides, Proving Grounds, Check Book, Radical Booksz. More -- areas which are Closed -- or stuff we don't know where it fits - (or even where it is?)

Parking Regulations as of November 2021

Getting There Suggest change

The Powerlinez access path starts (GPS lat long N41.1423 W74.1622) on the north side of Torne Brook Rd in Ramapo, NY -- just west from its intersection with Torne Valley Rd (Rockland county rt 95). The recommended Parking is at (N41.1415 W74.1618) along the west side of Torne Valley Rd, a short ways south of that intersection.

Driving from New York City or New Jersey or PA: Go to the giant interchange of routes NY Thruway 87, 287, and 17 near Suffern NY. Exit onto rt 17 North, which immediately goes into a traffic light. Turn sharp Right on rt 59 South for about 0.5 mile. Just after curving left, up and over railroad tracks, turn sharp Left onto Torne Valley Rd (Rockland County rt 95) and go about 1 mile generally North with some curves, past the recreational center.

Driving from NY state coming from the North: NY Thruway (I-87) south to exit 15A for rt 17 North + rt 59, Sloatsburg + Suffern. Exit to the right, go 0.1 mile curving right to reach a T intersection. Turn Right (NorthEast) and go about 0.2 mile to another T intersection. Turn Right (South) and go about 0.4 mile. Just after curving left, up and over railroad tracks, turn sharp Left onto Torne Valley Rd (Rockland County rt 95) and go about 1 mile generally North with some curves, past the recreational center.

Currently, as of November 2021, the parking has been changed.

No parking weekdays before 4pm. (Use Saltbox Parking Area at these times).
Do not block pump station access gates at any time.
Be careful not to hit or disturb manholes or other infrastructure.

The Saltbox Parking Area is a new resource, available on weekdays and weekends. Don't bushwhack or create new trails from this area.

Torne Brook Road and the trailhead remain a no-parking area. This is to ensure access for emergency personnel.

Inconsiderate or illegal parking here could lead to permanent closure.

The current parking area is now limited parking subject to the following guidelines:

No parking in the main parking area before 4 pm on weekdays.  Instead, park in the Saltbox Parking Area.

No not block pump station access gates at any time.

Be careful to not hit or disturb manholes or other infrastructure.

Do not park on Torne Brook Road or at the trailhead to Powerlinez.  This remains closed to ensure access by emergency personnel.

Inconsiderate or illegal parking here could lead to permanent closure.

Old Parking Rules are suspended:

Park by some 10-15 ft wide wire fence enclosures (sometimes called "the vents") and a green manhole cover, on the left (west) side of the road -- GPS latitude longitude approx (N41.1415 W74.1618). This is about 100 yards before (south from) the left turn for Torne Brook Rd. If you reach the entrance for the waste management facility on the right, you've gone too far.

Walking - From the parking, walk North 100 yards on Torne Valley Rd. Turn left (West) on Torne Brook Rd and walk 50 yards across new bridge over creek. Turn right (North) onto dirt road uphill.

Parking Regulations as of November 2021

Updated map:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1U-QD2IJo9T-o6BW7uTnW6j_u3tVWi1r0&usp=sharing

739 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Powerlinez

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1 5
 19
Jimmy Up!
Boulder
V4 6B
 15
Flight From Doom
Boulder
V4 6B
 28
Slabasaurus
Boulder
V4 6B
 18
Thor
Boulder
V4 6B
 34
Lucky Lizard
Boulder
V5 6C
 40
Paul Bunyan
Boulder
V6 7A
 23
Gorilla Monsoon
Boulder
V6 7A
 19
Water Weight
Boulder
V6 7A
 11
Cyclone
Boulder
V7 7A+
 25
Honk If You're Burly
Boulder
V7 7A+
 10
Diamond Traverse
Boulder
V7 7A+ R
 11
Cardiac Arete
Boulder
V10- 7C+
 7
Magnificence
Boulder
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 93
Rachel's Crack
Trad, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 77
The Sins of the Son
Sport, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Jimmy Up! Powerlinez Bou… > Boulder Rd > Freefall / Fringe
 19
V1 5 Boulder
Flight From Doom Powerlinez Bou… > Welcome Boulders > Flight From Doom
 15
V4 6B Boulder
Slabasaurus Powerlinez Bou… > Monsoon / Swamp > Slabasaurus Boulder
 28
V4 6B Boulder
Thor Powerlinez Bou… > Monsoon / Swamp > Swamp Boulder
 18
V4 6B Boulder
Lucky Lizard Powerlinez Bou… > Loop > Snake Hole Right
 34
V4 6B Boulder
Paul Bunyan Powerlinez Bou… > Rock Dojo > Whale Wall
 40
V5 6C Boulder
Gorilla Monsoon Powerlinez Bou… > Monsoon / Swamp > Gorilla Monsoon Boulder
 23
V6 7A Boulder
Water Weight Powerlinez Bou… > Loop > Snake Hole Right
 19
V6 7A Boulder
Cyclone Powerlinez Bou… > Loop > End of the Upper Loop
 11
V6 7A Boulder
Honk If You're Burly Powerlinez Bou… > Rock Dojo > High Heel Boulder
 25
V7 7A+ Boulder
Diamond Traverse Powerlinez Bou… > Rock Dojo > High Heel Boulder
 10
V7 7A+ Boulder
Cardiac Arete Powerlinez Bou… > Monsoon / Swamp > Gorilla Monsoon Boulder
 11
V7 7A+ R Boulder
Magnificence Powerlinez Bou… > Shakedown Street > 2. Magnificence / Con…
 7
V10- 7C+ Boulder
Rachel's Crack k. Tower Wall area > 6. The Tower Wall
 93
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Trad, TR
The Sins of the Son s. Books Tier > 6. The Good Book
 77
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport, TR
More Classic Climbs in Powerlinez »

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