Sissy Crag

Afternoon sun. Mostly protected from the rain.



Overlooking Middle Harbour, Sissy Crag is one of the premier bouldering areas in Sydney. It's all overhanging (up to about 45 degrees) and features about fifty individual problems ranging from V1 to V11+. The crag faces due west, and isn't very shady, so summer mornings and winter afternoons are the time to be here. The crag also seeps very badly after rain, so give it a miss if there's been much rain in the previous week. It usually remains dry for about 2 hours in heavy rain, before water starts running down the walls and onto the problems. While it is primarily a bouldering crag, Sissy also offers some micro sport routes.


The area has been described in several guidebooks including "The Sissy Crag Menu" guide in 1997 by Steven Kelly. First climbed by Scott Campbell in 1991.


The easiest way to get there is to drive, taking the second left after the Roseville Bridge into Ryrie Avenue, and then parking at the end of Bridgeview Crescent (the first left off Ryrie Avenue). You can also catch a "Forest Coaches" bus from Chatswood, and get off at the second stop after the Roseville Bridge (near the corner of Ryrie Avenue and Warringah Road).

Routes are described left to right, facing the cliff. Route names have been made up in the absence of any FA details submitted.

Chinup Bar 27/28 6m
Left of the chin up bar. Desperate! RBs to lower off.
Big Tree 26 8m
Start in front of the big tree. RBs to lower off.
* Right of Big Tree 25 8m
2m R of BT. RBs to lower off.
* Letter Box 23 8m
At the obvious letter box jug (on "Mr Smiley"). RBs to lower off.
* Vienna 21/22 7m
1m right of LB (at "Foam"). Often wet. 2 RBs to chain. Worth 23 if you boulder "Foam" to start.
Roman Rosenbaum, Munch 1994
* Double Layaways 21 8m
3m right of V at the double layaways. RBs to lower off.