Ice Climbing


The closest significant ice climbing is in the Auburn Ice Canyon in Auburn Massachusetts off RT 20. As long as it is sufficiently cold there is pretty consistent ice in Wolf Hill Quarry in Smithfield and in Catamint Quarry in Diamond Hill Park, Cumberland. There is also ice climbing at Ross Rocks in nearby Killingly but it is very subject to having a signficant snowpack.

Todd Swain's guidebook availaible here:  An Ice Climber's Guide to Southern New England and Easten New York covers Rhode Island and nearby ice in Connecticut and Massachusetts. 

Wolf Hill Quarry, Smithfield
This is an abandoned quarry. The ice flows ranging from 20 to 50 ft in height. From I-295 take the Route 44 west exit. Take a right (north) after the Apple Valley Mall onto Route 5 (Cedar Swamp Rd.). Bear right at the stop sign this becomes Pleasent View Ave. Take your next right onto Spragueville Rd. At the bottom of the hill take a right on Mountaindale Rd. and the quarry is immediately on your left. There is parking across the road from the gate. Follow the path in and take the first right where the path splits. Access apparently has not been an issue.


Catamint Quarry, Cumberland (AKA Ice Cream Slabs)
Catamint Quarry is within Diamond Hill State Park. It forms pretty consistently. It is about 40 feet high, slabby, and is rated about a WI-2. It is located in Diamond Hill State Park on the west side of RT 114. Access is tricky to find. Access is by a road that looks like a driveway south of the Abbot Valley Vet Clinic. Park at the Diamond Hill town park parking lot on the east side of Diamond Hill Road (114) and wal k across the street. Walk down the side road to a chain across a dirt road and follow the dirt road past a house. You'll feel as though you're trespassing and the chain across the trail's start, apparently to discourage vehicles, isn't exactly welcoming.but this is state land and a public right-of-way, not private. This was confir med by the RI DEM. They plan on eventually building a parking area here. Follow the trail to the top of the hill and you will see the slabs. Photo is of the ice in thin "not in" condition.
Ross Rocks, Killingly, CT
See the rock climbing page for directions. However, the access road and parking lot at Ross Pond are not plowed in the winter and the Ross Road entrance is usually gated shut so you need to park at the Old Furnace State Park parking lot and follow the trail in. There is a trail map below.
Ice forms in the corner of the Orange Wall. The ice quality and quantity vary greatly depending on snowpack. If these ethereal drips are in then it is arguably the best single ice flow in southern New England at 90 feet tall. The grade can be anywhere from WI-3 to WI-5. Some photos from various years and conditions below.


Green-Cornered WI-3-4. Red-Up Against the Wall WI-4-5
Brian Phillips leading Cornered at Ross Rocks (Photo by David Fasulo)


Winter Access Trail

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