Maryland · Rock climbing · Knoxville · Near Ballenger Creek

Highlands

HighlandsPhoto: HarpersFerryNPS, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
46 routes
V0 – V8-9
Bouldering · Top Rope
Apr–Jun, Aug–Nov
best months

Is Highlands open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. It doesn't name Highlands, so check the source for the area it covers.

  • Bridge to Maryland Heights & C&O Canal CLOSED

    Park closure covering Harpers Ferry National Historical Park · NPS · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

  • Ongoing work on Lower Town buildings

    Park alert covering Harpers Ferry National Historical Park · NPS · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

As of · Source: NPS · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Highlands is a climbing area in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in Maryland, managed by the National Park Service. It sits within the park's land, and a fee is charged for visits. The area is a bouldering destination, with 45 boulder problems and one top-rope route among its 46 routes. The bouldering runs from V0- up to V8-9, with the top-rope route at 5.9. Some of the named problems include Surf & Turf (V0-), Little Dipper (V1), Orion's Belt (V2), Big Dog (V4) and Learning To Fly (V8-9). The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Sharpsburg run from highs around 74°F in May to about 78°F in September, with July highs near 86°F. Several other climbing areas and trails lie close by. Balcony Jr. is about 0.1 mile away, Balcony Rock about 0.2 mile, and the Underground Railroad about 0.2 mile. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail is about 0.3 mile away.

Around this trail

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

    Harpers Ferry Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 2.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Cannonball Deli

    Fast food

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsHarpersFerryNPS, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Arsenal Square

    Museum

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: HarpersFerryNPS, CC BY 2.0 (commons)

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

    Best time to visit Highlands

    Best months: April–June and August–November. 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

      41° / 21°

    2. Feb

      44° / 23°

    3. Mar

      53° / 29°

    4. Apr

      65° / 39°

    5. May

      74° / 49°

    6. Jun

      82° / 58°

    7. Jul

      86° / 62°

    8. Aug

      85° / 61°

    9. Sep

      78° / 54°

    10. Oct

      67° / 42°

    11. Nov

      56° / 32°

    12. Dec

      45° / 25°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sharpsburg 5 S, MD, 5 mi away at 400 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (46)

Soaring TransportFA: John Kelbel5.9Big EasyV-easyBooze CruiseV-easySnooze CruiseV-easyUnknown 1V-easyUnknown 2V-easyUnknown 3V-easyUnsolved MysteriesV-easyGroup EffortV0Lone RangerV0Seams EasyV0Surf & TurfV0-Alaskan PicnicV1Going Toward the LightV1Little DipperV1Slipper TunesV1Civilized FloaterV1-2Palms For The PoorV1-2Blubber ShuffleV2Butter BallsV2Orion's BeltV2Other Dan's CrackFA: Dan Cicchini, Elliott Becker (complete)V2Chicken Head ChuckV2-3Ears Are For CornV2-3HydraV2-3Steve E. Wonder AreteV2-3Big DipperV3Bulge TourV3Little DogV3Smooth SailingV3Big DogV4Great BearV4Ships KeelV4Stinger AreteV4The HerdsmanV4The Iron PickleFA: Scott ChapmanV4The SquinchV4The StruthV4Dan's AreteV4-5Slope is DopeV4-5Two Tacos for TinaV4-5Left's Last StandV5Stung (Stinger Var.)V5Pussy FootV5-6Pigeon FootFA: Scott ChapmanV6Learning To FlyV8-9

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
Yes

Source: National Park Service API

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