Parks Pond Bluff
- 6 routes
- 5.8 – 5.11b
- Trad · Sport
- May–Oct
- best months
Parks Pond Bluff is a climbing area in Maine, about a mile from the town of Clifton. It sits close to several other named climbing areas, so it makes a convenient base for a day of climbing in the area. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Orono put July highs around 81°F with lows near 58°F, and September still runs about 70°F by day. The area holds six climbing routes, with trad styles making up four and sport styles two. Grades range from 5.8 to 5.11b. Among the routes are Double Helix - Right at 5.8 and Under The Weather at 5.11b, and the sport route Babysitter's Route at 5.10b/c. Nearby, the Orange Trail and Blue White Trail are hikes about 5 miles away, and Partridge Pond Trail is a little farther. Beech Hill Pond, a lake fishing spot, is about 9 miles off.
- c. Main FaceRock climbing0.1 mi
- e. Mountaineers WallRock climbing0.1 mi
- b. Mushroom WallRock climbing0.1 mi
- a. Maple Run WallRock climbing0.1 mi
- Orange TrailHiking4.5 mi
- Blue White TrailHiking5.3 mi
- Partridge Pond TrailHiking5.7 mi
- Beech Hill PondLake fishing9.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Left End and Left FaceRock climbing · ~3 min drivePhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Big Chick HillRock climbing · ~3 min drivePhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Main FaceRock climbing · ~3 min drivePhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Upper Slab and Upper WallRock climbing · ~1h drivePhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
The Precipice aka The South WallRock climbing · ~1h 1m drivePhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Otter CliffsRock climbing · ~1h 5m drivePhoto: Aaron Zhu, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- c. Main FaceRock climbing · Next door
- e. Mountaineers WallRock climbing · Next door
- b. Mushroom WallRock climbing · Next door
- a. Maple Run WallRock climbing · Next door
Best time to visit Parks Pond Bluff
Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
28° / 11°
Feb
32° / 13°
Mar
41° / 21°
Apr
53° / 32°
May
66° / 43°
Jun
75° / 52°
Jul
81° / 58°
Aug
79° / 57°
Sep
70° / 48°
Oct
57° / 37°
Nov
45° / 29°
Dec
35° / 18°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Orono, ME, 10.5 mi away at 115 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
