Rock Climbing

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWGNRA), located within a two hour drive of New York City and Philadelphia, offers 70,000 acres of public land for recreation.  The most noteworthy geologic feature is the park•s namesake, the Delaware Water Gap, where the Delaware River cuts through the Kittatinny Ridge.  Mt. Minsi (PA) and Mt. Tammany (NJ) tower 1,000 feet over the Delaware River at the Delaware Water Gap, with vertical rock outcrops over 200 feet high on both sides.  This exceptional crag offers climbers hundreds of traditional rock climbing routes with western-style exposure.

 Although the Delaware Water Gap is considered by some climbers to be the lesser cousin of the Shawangunk Mountains (•The Gunks•) further north in New Paltz, NY, •The Gap• is actually part of the same continuous mountain ridge and made of the same rock (although not as high quality rock as The Gunks).  You will not see The Gunks crowds of climbers at The Gap!  Loose rock is always a concern at The Gap, and climbing helmets are mandatory.  If you stick to the most popular, high-traffic routes, where the holds have been weighted thousands of times and the same pro placements have been used repeatedly, you can minimize the overall risk of loose rocks (but it is still a real risk).  There are several great top-rope locations at The Gap, and multi-pitch trad routes ranging from 5.0 to 5.10 and over.  Approaches are steep and rough at The Gap, making rescue slow and difficult, so gauge your personal risk accordingly.  Route finding is difficult, and your first visit should be accompanied by a Gap Veteran or a certified and experienced guide.  There is an older guide book available (1980 by Michael Steel), and The Gap is included in a more recent Guide to Rock Climbing in NJ.

 Further north on the Kittatinny Ridge is another smaller outcrop called •Ricks Rocks•.  Ricks Rocks is an ideal top-rope crag that is frequented by local summer camps and outdoor groups.  Ricks Rocks is a good family crag, with a short, moderate approach.  Leading is possible at Ricks Rocks in one 80 foot pitch, with routes from 5.0 to 5.9.  There is also a less-than-vertical open-book corner that makes an ideal mock-lead or first lead.  There is a similar outcrop near the entrance to High Point State Park at the northern end of the DWGNRA.  Rappelling and rough climbing are also available at the •King Shale Pit• only two miles away from Dingmans Campground.  Directions to all of these crags are available in our campground office.

 During the winter months, the local waterfalls freeze, and opportunities for ice climbing exist at most falls.  In addition, there are several ice walls that develop in The Gap itself that are climbable.  The ice climbs in The Gap are covered in the Michael Steel guide book.  Note that several of these waterfalls are in very remote areas, increasing the ice climber•s risk, because rescue is very difficult and several hours away.  Please view our Waterfalls page to learn more about these attractions:

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