Nike Base

Nike Base is a small, seldom-visited traprock (basalt) crag just south of Pinnacle Rock on the Metacomet Trail. It has a lovely view of the suburbs and is delightfully free of the broken beer bottles that adorn Pinnacle. Most climbs are 40-50 ft. tall. The ratings are old-school and stiff.

The crag is named for a Cold War era surface-to-air missile radar site that was located here and operational from 1956-61. You can still see remnants of the concrete and fences, especially if you walk a bit south on the Metacomet Trail. Read more at coldwar-ct.com

Access the bottom by scrambling down a brushy gully on climber's right or rappelling down. Bring a long static or webbing to set top rope anchors from trees.