Left through gate on rough dirt road opposite Woodland. Up hill past microwave tower visible on right. Past hill before road branches right on faint path to the base of north facing crag. (BBD)
From Rte. 128, I93 south, take exit 33, around rotary, over I93, and
as above.
Walk right along right side of transmission lines. Past swampy area
on right, right on faint path to cliffs on left. (BBD)
From Rte. 128, south on Montrose Ave., left (west) on Water St.,
right on Farm St., and as above.
Walk south a short distance along a path to cliffs on left. (BBD)
Through gate, walk up dirt road, bear left through intersection.
Shortly thereafter, multiple trails on right lead to rocks.
From I495 north, take exit for Rte. 114 south, Middleton. After
barely a quarter mile, right into Den Rock parking, and as above. (BBD)
Walk to right (ENE) around left of brush piles to dirt road to an old
picnic area. Right, follow path around right side of rock outcroppings,
up short hill to water. Lantern Rock is on the shore of the pond to the
left. (BBD)
Toward Boston, Rte. 9 east past new Chestnut Hill Mall on left, north on
Hammond Pond Parkway
A well-marked trail runs south parallel to 128 for about 1/3 mile to
a trail/gully leading right into the woods. (It is also possible to
walk along 128 next to the guard rail; leave the roadway and rejoin the
trail at the "no parking" signs.)
There are several sets of rocks -- the trail bends to avoid the
first, a short cliff visible through the trees -- but the most popular
is a 5 minute walk up the shallow gully to cliffs on left. (BBD!!!)
From Boston, over Tobin bridge (I95) or through Callahan tunnel
(Rte. 1) to Rte. 107 north. Cross marshlands, enter Lynn, pass General
Electric on right. 1/2 mile to large 5-way intersection. Right on
Common St., around Common, right on Commercial St. Left on Lynnway,
follow signs to Nahant and the rotary, and as above.
From rotary, cross causeway to Nahant. Owing to parking restrictions
in Nahant, park in beach parking area at end of causeway near the Tides
restaurant, shuttle to cliff, last one takes his bicycle. If you arrive
late and are willing to risk a ticket, directions to the cliff follow:
From Little Nahant Island, keep going for 0.3 to 0.4 mile, and turn
right onto Castle Road. Within about 0.5 mile, there will be two
schools on the left with parking. Continue on Castle Road to where it
goes off at a sharp right; make a left onto Gardiner, and then a sharp
right onto Trimountain. Follow Trimountain to the bottom of the hill,
and take a left into the parking lot (by permit only).
Hike to cliffs along paths. Watch out for poison ivy! Major
rockfalls in 1991 have significantly reduced climbing opportunities
here.
From 128, take exit for Rte 1 south to Walnut St. Reverse direction at
cloverleaf then as above.
Walk around left side of buildings, past piles of rubbish until in
back of buildings. Pass through fence, follow road into forest, hillside
on left, wetland on right. 1/10 mi to first climbing area up hill on
the left (hard to see). Contour right, from first crag to Second crag.
Right uphill past old VW Bug fender, over hill and descend toward Third
area on left in an abandoned quarry. The most interesting climb here
(Pizza and Beer) is finger crack in the vertical wall in left side of
quarry. This area is particularly confusing for first timers so don't
be shy about asking someone to show you around.
Although the foregoing seems the easiest access, an alternative
approach exists:
North on Rte 1 (1/4 mile south of 128), right (east) on 129, pass Ledge Rd,
second on right. At rotary, take 129 east toward Lynn Swampscott Hospital.
First right just past sign "Goodwins's Clam Shopppe". Park in commuter
parking lot opp. Goodluck Farms and Clam Shoppe. Walk back (west) 1/2
mile along sidewalk on left side of Rte. 129 to Ledge Rd. To end of Ledge
Rd. (1/4 mile), road branches slightly left. Follow dirt road for 1/4
mile to reach Third crag on right. Continuing on dirt road, take faint
trail right down talus slope past old VW Bug fender. First and Second
crags are up hill to the right.
(Ed note: This area has been renamed in memory of Bob Johnson,
who explored and put up all the original routes here.)
Castle Rocks
Farm St, Saugus. From Rte. 1 north, left (northwest) on Main St.,
Saugus. Cross Lynn Fells Parkway, 1 mile to Farm St., Wakefield, at
high voltage transmission line crossing, park along road.
Chelmsford Lyme Quarry
Rte. 110, 1 mile west of Chelmsford Center. From Rte. 495 south, take the
Rte. 110 exit (1 mile south of Rte. 3) and head west; from Rte. 495
north, take Rte. 4 and go south. Both will take you to Chelmsford
Center in short order, where routes 129, 4, 27, and 110 intersect. Pick
up Rte. 110 West, which is called Littleton Road. 1 mile past
Chelmsford Center is a dirt loop parking area on the right, marked by a
large granite "Welcome to the Chelmsford Lyme Quarry Reservation" sign.
The front quarry is 150' from the parking lot.
College Rock
College Rd, Hopkinton. From Boston, take the Mass Pike to I495,
south on I495 to the first exit east, toward Hopkinton. Right on
Rte. 85 to College Rd. Left on College Rd. (utility pole in
intersection), right into College Rock Park (sign, small parking lot, or
park before entrance on the right).
Den Rock
Route 114 (Winthrop Ave), North Andover. From Boston I93 north,
take exit for Rte. 125, northeast toward Andover. Left on Rte. 114,
passing Merrimack College on left, cross Rte. 133, Boston Chicken on
left followed by shopping center on right. Left into Den Rock parking.
Lantern Rock
Penny Brook Rd., Lynn Woods, Lynn. From Boston, take Rte. 1 north
to Saugus, left (east) on Walnut St. Follow Walnut St. past Birch Pond
Reservoir on left to traffic light at Penny Brook Rd. on left and
O'Callahan Way on right. Left on Penny Brook Rd. to end and City of
Lynn Parks Department garage. Old basketball courts on right. Park
here.
Hammond Pond
Hammond Pond Parkway, Newton. From Boston, Rte. 9 west, north on Hammond
Pond Parkway.
Hardy Mountain/Red Rocks
Route 133 at Route 128, Gloucester. Rte. 128 north to exit for
Rte. 133. Left (north) on 133, under 128, park immediately on left.
Nahant Sea Cliffs
Fort Ruckman on Big Nahant Island, Nahant. From Rte. 1 and 128 north,
Rte. 129 toward Lynn and Swampscott. After 6-7 miles on 129, cross
Rte. 1A in Lynn at a traffic light (ocean straight ahead). Toward
ocean, right (south) on Lynn Shore Drive, to rotary.
Route 1 Quarry
Route 1, Lynnfield. From Boston, Rte. 1 north, pass Walnut St., park on
right at Bowling alley before Rte. 129.
Mt. Spickett, Burrill Hill Tower, and Johnson Crag and Boulders
Great Woods Rd., Lynn Woods, Lynn. North on Rte. 128 (I95) or north
on Rte. 1, take exit for Rte. 129 east, Lynn (do not mistake for
Rte. 129, Wakefield). From rotary, 1 mile to Atlantic Medical Center on
right, another 0.6 mile to Great Woods Rd. on right; Lynnfield
St. Baptist Church is on the corner. Right on Great Woods Rd. to the
end, past stone pillars, park at end by ball field.
Stage Fort Park
Gloucester. Rte. 128 north, take exit for Rte. 133 south. Right (east)
on 133 into Gloucester, right on Rte. 127, and immediately left into
park. Park on right at top of rise. The rock (with plaque) is across
the road on the left.
Waitts Mountain Park
Leonard St, Malden. Rte. 60 east through Malden Center (one-way
loop). At Ferry St. go left (north) on Main St. Pass about 10 streets
on right to Leonard St. Right on Leonard up steep hill, park at top of
hill. Walk right into park between stone walls. Stay to right, cliff
on left. Beware of glass and other disgusting rubbish. Bring a trash
bag.
General Notes
The permanent address for this page is
http://www.rgrjr.com/climbing/directions.html.
Bill Atkinson
Bob Rogers
<rogers@rgrjr.com>
$Id$