Farley Ledges

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Farley Ledges are a sandstone bluff on the southeast side of Northfield Mountain in eastern Franklin County, Massachusetts. The ledge rises about 1,067 feet (325 meters) above sea level and about 700 feet (210 meters) above the small village of Farley, which is part of Erving. The rocks are metamorphic and roughly 400 million years old. Since the 1930s, Farley Ledges has been a popular destination for rock climbers.

The Western Massachusetts Climbers Coalition has worked to protect access to the area. In 2007, they purchased land along Route 2 that includes a trailhead with parking and a path to the ledges. The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail runs along the wooded north side of the ledges, where Briggs Brook Falls drops from the ridgecrest. An established climbing-access loop trail departs from the main trail to reach both the summit of the ledges and the nearby boulder field.

Climbing access at Farley Ledges has faced closures by landowners in the past. Landowners have asked that climbing route descriptions and grades not be published online or in print. As a result, new climbers often rely on help from experienced locals rather than published guides.