Arguably the closest crag from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ (~1:15 from door to crag), Tumbledown Dick, also known as the dick, is an expansive hillside located close to the road with several different cliffs. Most of the climbing is trad, but it’s super easy to hike to the top of all of the cliffs and set up top ropes. Mostly slab climbing with some steeper harder stuff mixed in on super nice schist. A great place to practice trad climbing or to test out your anchor building skills and tope rope some stuff. If its warm out, pop over to Evan’s notch and take a dip in the Wild River (about 5 minutes away).

Directions

Turn right onto Bridge st. in Gilead and then take another right onto North Rd. Follow N Rd. past some farms until you hit a forested patch. As you crest a hill, the cliffs should be visible off to your right. Drive to the bottom of the hill and park on the side of the road across from a 10 ft tall roadside cliff.

Directly above where you park, there is a ~40ft cliff called the forehead (it looks like a forehead). There three cracks that go up this face are super fun and the left one is pretty dam hard. All climbs on the forehead are easily top roped. As you walk along the cliffs to the left you will reach the amphitheater, which has some great cracks as well which are easily top roped.

Continuing along the cliffs to climbings left, you will see a small hand line leading up a ramp directly before reaching a giant alcove with a chimney in the back. Follow this ramp up to the 2nd tier. Some of the better climbs on the second tier are located at the top of the ramp where the ramp widens. Thin Air climbs up to a small ledge with a tree, continues in a crack out left, and then another crack out right. Two other 5.9s climb the face to the right of Thin Air. All the climbs here have bolted anchors and are easy to walk around to. Make sure you have a 70m rope. If you continue up past the end of the 2nd tier ramp you reach the 3rd tier, which has some good stuff as well.

From the road, if you continue along the cliffs past the 2nd tier handling and alcove, you will eventually reach the sharks fin. tucked in a corner to the left of all the sport routes is an awesome 5.7 crack. Straight up the sharks fin face there is a super hard 12a crack that stays dry in anything. All routes here are easily top roped.

Continuing along the cliff to climbers left for another couple minutes, you will reach a large clean slab called the Illegal Alien Wall. The rout Illegal Alien is one of the best 10a’s in the North Conway area in my opinion. Climb directly up to the small overlap near the top of the slab. Head right and follow another crack system to the top. The routes directly right and left of Illegal Alien are also 10s. All routes are easily top roped with a 70m rope.

Location:

1700 N Rd, Gilead, ME 04217

44.405054°±·,Ìý70.939026°°Â

Additional Notes

The North Conway Rock Climbs guidebook has the dick in it as well almost all the crags in the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ area. If you’re in to climbing you should pick one up.

Higgins beach is located just south of Portland in Scarborough. The beach itself is great for chillin and taking in the sun during fall or short term. Higgins is also one of the most popular surf spots in southern Maine. The beach faces southeast and has an awesome break. A super easy trip to do during the week before or after class. Also probably the closest beach to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½.

Directions

Park at the lot off of Ocean Avenue and walk down to the beach from there. The lot has a bathroom and showers which are open year round. There is a fee to park in the summer.

Location:

98 Pearl St Exd, Scarborough, ME 04074

43.562848°±·,Ìý70.28132°°Â

Additional Notes

Higgins gets crazy busy when the surf is good so be prepared.

See also: Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý

Popham is an incredible  beach and home to the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Outing Club annual fall clam bake. At low tide, several islands become reachable from the main land and are easy to explore. For all you surfers the best break faces West. A super easy trip that can be done in an afternoon.

Directions

Very easy to get to from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½. Park in the large parking lot after the state park gate and explore the beach!

Location:

10 Perkins Farm Ln, Phippsburg, ME 04562

43.737171°±·,Ìý69.796925°°Â

Additional Notes

The fee for out of state residents (Based on drivers license) is $8/person. The outing club has vehicle park passes which allow you to get an entire car in for free. Come grab one!

See also:

Bald Mountain is reached by a 15 minute hike on a flat easy trail followed by a 20-30 minute hike up steeper terrain. The views from the top are spectacular for the relatively small size of this mountain. Half way up, you will pass by an incredible lake that is worth a trip in its own right (See link in additional notes below).

Directions

The trail head appears shortly after passing Shagg Pond on the right. Drive up a steep hill and park at the pullout on the left as soon as you reach the top of the. The trailhead is immediately across from the pullout. Follow the trail until it reaches Little Concord Pond (See link in additional notes below). Immediately before the small clearing that leads down to the lake, take a right. There should be a green sign which points up a steep rocky ramp visible immediately. Follow the trail that leads up this ramp, and take it to the top of Bald Mountain.

Trailhead Location:

272 Shagg Pond Rd. Bryant Pond, ME 04219

44.427222°N,  70.542033 °W

Additional Notes

See also: Little Concord Pond