Maryland · Rock climbing · Four Corners

South Bank - Dirty Ernie

15 routes
V0+ – V11
Bouldering
Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

South Bank - Dirty Ernie is a bouldering area in Maryland, about 0.3 miles from the community of Burnt Mills. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking spots, with the North Bank - Hobo Cave Area and Fin Boulder aka Trailside both about 0.1 mile away. The name Dirty Ernie points to the bouldering here, and the routes run from V0+ up to V11, with the hardest, Ernie's Toe, at V11. The climbing is all bouldering, and the grade range spans from the easiest V0+ to V11. Among the named routes are Ernies Jam at V0+, Dirty Ernie's Direct at V8, and Dirty Ernie's Revenge at V9-10, which was first climbed by Gabor Szekely. Ernie's Toe, at V11, was first climbed by Evan Trombley. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Beltsville weather station show May highs around 74°F and October highs around 68°F, while July averages reach 87°F. The Copperhead Run Trail and the Northwest Branch Trail are both about 0.1 mile away. Paddlers can head to the Northwest Branch Anacostia River, about 3.6 miles off, and the Greenbelt Park Picnic Areas are about 6.7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit South Bank - Dirty Ernie

    Best months: April–June and September–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

      43° / 25°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      45° / 27°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      53° / 34°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      65° / 44°

      11 wet

    5. May

      74° / 54°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 63°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      87° / 68°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      86° / 66°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 59°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 47°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      57° / 37°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      47° / 30°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Beltsville, MD, 3.8 mi away at 145 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (15)

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