Chiller Pillar Ice Climb

Explore the secluded Chiller Pillar in Wilmington, New York, nestled within Adirondack Park. During winter months, this stunning WI4 ice climb offers a thrilling challenge for ice climbers, with its impressive 100-foot tall ice wall serving as the ultimate test of skill.

Accessing Chiller Pillar is quick and easy with a short walk along the Cobble Lookout Trail leading climbers or hikers to its base. Keep in mind that Chiller Pillar's availability may vary throughout the winter, as its south-facing orientation can affect its stability. However, when conditions are optimal, you're likely to find local ice climbers testing their skills on this beautiful ice wall.

During my own visit here in January 2024, I had the opportunity to tackle the lower section of the ice wall using novice ice tools and no rope, which was my first experience on a completely vertical ice wall. I'm more used to 70% slopes and frozen waterfalls in PA's Grand canyon. While my ascent was limited to the lower 7 feet, it provided a really fun introduction to vertical ice climbing, despite encountering some challenges with the condition of the ice. The lower bulges of Chiller Pillar felt rotted out after a refreeze, making for unstable footholds. The upper reaches of what I felt comfortable climbing offered more solid ice, boosting my confidence in the Petzl Summit axes I was using. A local offered to let me borrow his Petzl Nomic axes, which served much better than mine -- making it easier and faster to traverse the ice. For a beginner ice climber, tooling around on Chiller Pillar was a whole lot of fun.

Spectators Welcome
Even if you're not an ice climber yourself, Chiller Pillar welcomes spectators to witness the thrilling ascent of climbers tackling this icy behemoth. As someone who initially observed Chiller Pillar during a hike to Cobble Lookout in 2022, I can attest to the awe-inspiring spectacle it offers, inspiring me to take up ice climbing myself.

Trails
This hike follows the Cobble Lookout Trail to reach Chiller Pillar.

Parking
Ice climbers will find parking alongside Gillespie Drive. Due to Cobble Lookout's popularity you may need to park down the road to reach the trailhead.

Hike Difficulty
The hike to reach Chiller Pillar is easy.

Ice Climbing Difficulty Rating
The ice climbing difficulty rating on Chiller Pillar is WI4.