THING 196 - Laddin's Rock

I bet not everyone knows that there is a 60-foot sheer cliff in the heart of Old Greenwich. It's called Laddin's Rock and is set inside an 18 acre sanctuary on High Meadow Road off Laddin's Rock Road not too far from the Perrot Memorial Library. This rock face was heavily climbed in the 1960's and has been rediscovered by at least three generations of climbers since. A very interesting history of Laddin's Rock can be found here through the Greenwich Town site. During the fall and winter months, Laddin's Rock is a great vista where you can look south towards the sound and see for miles. During the spring and summer months, you can see red tailed hawks and vultures circling above the rock. Down below you can enjoy a cool and shady picnic at the base of the cliff. Access to the top of Laddin's Rock is easy. There are short, moderate trails that lead to the pinnacle. Once at the top, wildlife can be easily viewed and there is plenty of space to lay out and catch some rays, have a picnic, or just enjoy being in the forest.Greenwich has a lot of great parks and forests that residents and non-residents should take advantage of. A list of such parks can be found here. Hiking, fishing, biking, dog walking, and trail running are just a few activities that you can do in the forests of Greenwich. Outdoor climbing should only be done under proper supervision, as well as, after some indoor training.Laddin's Rock is dog friendly. Parking is simple with a large grassy area along side the road.A short video of me climbing a boulder at the base of Laddin's Rock can be found here. It will give you more of an idea of Laddin's Rock. Enjoy!Laddin's is an extension of Rosa Harmon Park. Click here to see it on google maps.If you have any questions about climbing and/or are interested in starting to climb contact contributor Julien Jarry.