Climbing
Powerlinez
The largest rock climbing area within an hour's drive from New York City -- in the southwest corner of Harriman State Park. The rock of Powerlinez can easily be seen when driving north on the New York Thruway, just a couple miles north from the big interchange of routes 87 + 287 + 17 at the southern border of NY state with New Jersey. It's big but it's not tall. It has many interesting rocks for bouldering, but for rope-protected climbing the highest wall is about 80 feet. There are a couple of sectors higher than 50 feet, but most of the roped climbing cliffs are less than 50 feet tall -- good mostly for top-roping, but also some trad leading, and five short routes with bolts.
Sierra Eastside
Where the high desert meets the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. It's home to the mighty and expansive Owens Valley, the deepest in the lower 48, and one of the only known super volcanoes on the planet: The Long Valley Caldera, just south of Mammoth. The vistas are astounding, the weather is prime and the climbing is even better.
Cranberry Hollow
This set of quiet crags about 30-70 feet tall offers mainly Top-Roping from natural anchors - (no bolts). In Allamuchy Mountain State Park about 4 miles N from I-80, around Andover and Byram Township just north from Cranberry Lake.
The cliffs in this area have not yet been specifically approved for technical rock climbing by the management of the State Park.
Rock is granite or granitic gneiss. Facing mainly West, and some South (so good for cool-weather days). Base and lower half of most routes is shaded by mature trees, so not as hot as might expect on hot-weather days.
Not much climbed yet, so come prepared to manage loose + falling rock, with holds obscured by vegetation and dirt, slippery unmarked scrambles to set up top anchors.
Nevada
Though climbers think of the Calico area mainly for sport crags and bouldering, there's also lots of scrambling and hiking in dramatic situations and with interesting moves. Indeed there's so much interesting scrambling in half-day range of some trailhead, lots of people head up and out with no specific objective or route description and just start exploring -- making up their own adventure.