Upper West
Cliff Steward: Andrea & Steve Charest
Guidebook: Tough Schist
Mountain Project: Upper West
Access Beta & Closures page
The Climbing: Upper West is a mainstay in Bolton climbing with a little bit of everything to keep one occupied. With introductory traditional climbs at 5.7 and 5.8, sport climbing as hard as 12c, and the best hand crack the Green Mountain State has to offer: The Rose (5.10a). Below the main cliff are scattered boulders as well from V0 to V10.
Don’t Miss: 5.7 Corner (5.7), 5.7+ Corner (5.7+), Beginner’s Luck (5.8), Chockstone (5.8), Dr. Diaz (5.9), Stone Staircase (5.9), Take Back Vermont (10a), The Rose (10a), Fresh Meat (10b), Paradox (11a), The Thorn (11a), Mal Bouche (12a), GNR (12b)
Access Beta:
- Be sure to check our Access Beta & Closures page for COVID-19 advisory, current closures, reopening or changed operations.
- Roadside parking is limited at Upper West; if possible please carpool and do not block the lane of travel on Bolton Notch Road.
- Peregrine Falcons have historically nested at nearby Upper Upper West which is often temporarily closed in the spring for nest season.
Access Story: CRAG-VT worked for two years to establish permanent protection for this beautiful and historic cliff, and in May of 2009 purchased Upper West Bolton. This acquisition protected 18 acres of rock faces, hiking trails, a boulder field and a hilltop summit. After the purchase, CRAG-VT collaborated with the Vermont Land Trust (VLT) to secure a conservation easement that permanently guarantees public access, climbing, and preservation of the cliff’s natural environment–regardless of future ownership status.
Thank You to Our Partners: CRAG-VT could not have accomplished this without hard work, donations, and funding from many sources. CRAG-VT extends a huge thank you to: The Vermont Land Trust for their donation of the conservation and recreation easement; the Conservation Alliance, The Access Fund, and the Bolton Conservation Commission for their generous grants and guidance; to our corporate sponsors including The Outdoor Gear Exchange, ClimbHigh, EMS, and Petra Cliffs for their support of this project and many others over the years; to the landowners, Mike Ringuette and Ken and Nancy Remsen, for recognizing the importance of conserving this land forever; to the many great companies who donated prizes for our events including Julbo, Point 6, La Sportiva, Evolv, Kombi, and many others; and finally to Pam Moreau for her expert legal advice.
