Maryland · Rock climbing · Sabillasville · Near Ballenger Creek

Chief Block

Chief BlockPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
5 routes
V0-1 – V5+
Bouldering
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Is Chief Block open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Catoctin Mountain Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Catoctin Mountain Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Chief Block is a bouldering area in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland, managed by the National Park Service. It sits within the park's own land, and there is no fee to visit. The climbing here is all bouldering, with five routes spread across a range of grades from V0-1 to V5+. The easiest are Sheath Chimney and Warrior's Journey, both V1+, and the hardest is The Chief at V5+. Arrow Arete is a V4. The most comfortable months for a visit are late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 73°F in May to about 75°F in September, with July the warmest at about 84°F. Cunningham Falls and the Hog Rock Loop Trail are both about 0.1 mile away, and Camp Misty Mount is about 1.2 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Camp Greentop Historic District

    Campground

    Campground · 0.9 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Rocky's Pizza

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 3 mi
  • If it rainsAcroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Schifferstadt Architectural Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 15 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Ballenger Creek
  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Chief Block

    Best months: April and June–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.

    1. Jan

      39° / 23°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      42° / 25°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      52° / 31°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      65° / 42°

      12 wet

    5. May

      73° / 52°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      80° / 60°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 65°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 63°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 58°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      65° / 46°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 36°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 28°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Catoctin Mtn Park, MD, 1.1 mi away at 1,610 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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