Maryland · Rock climbing · Cumberland

Pluto Buttress

5 routes
5.4 – 5.10
Top Rope
Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Pluto Buttress is a climbing area in Wills Mountain State Park in Maryland, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. It sits among a cluster of named buttresses, with Saturn Buttress, Mars Buttress, Neptune Buttress and Earth Buttress all about 0.1 mile away. The area is a top-rope destination. Five routes are listed, all top-roped, with grades ranging from 5.4 to 5.10. Resistance is Futile is the easiest at 5.4, and Don't Panic! and Men Who Pause are the hardest at 5.10. All were first ascended in May 2020 by David Carrier and Ben LaCour. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Cumberland run to highs around 75°F in May and 79°F in September, with July peaking near 87°F. That station sits about 500 feet lower than the buttresses, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. Hikers can find Monkey's Head Rock Trail about 6 miles away, and paddlers can head to Evitts Creek in Pennsylvania, roughly 9 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jun, Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Pluto Buttress

    Best months: June and August–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°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      43° / 24°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      53° / 31°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      66° / 41°

      13 wet

    5. May

      75° / 51°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 60°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      87° / 64°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 63°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 55°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      67° / 43°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      54° / 34°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 27°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cumberland 2, MD, 2.4 mi away at 730 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (5)