Maryland · Bouldering · Sabillasville · Near Ballenger Creek

The Chief

V5+
grade
Bouldering Pads
style
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Is The Chief 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.

This is the hardest problem catalogued at Chief Block, representing the upper limit of the five boulder problems developed at this Maryland crag.

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
  • Nearby · Cliff Trail Boulders · The Main Wall · Wolf's Head Pillar
  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit The Chief

    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.

Photo of the crag

Chief Block — the crag this route is on
Chief Block, Maryland — this photo shows the crag, not this individual route.Photo: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Cliff Trail BouldersPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cliff Trail Boulders

Next door

41 climbing routes at Cliff Trail Boulders in Maryland.

The Main WallPhoto: TrailVoice, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Main Wall

~3 min drive

Main Wall, The in Maryland has 14 climbing routes with 7 difficulty grades.

Wolf's Head PillarPhoto: TrailVoice, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wolf's Head Pillar

~3 min drive

Wolf's Head Pillar in Maryland has 6 routes with 6 distinct difficulty grades.

Wolf RockPhoto: TrailVoice, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wolf Rock

~3 min drive

Wolf Rock in Maryland has 4 top-rope climbing routes.

CLIMB

Catoctin Mountain Park

Next door

Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland has 27 climbing routes on bouldering pads.

CLIMB

Hog Rock

~1 min drive

Hog Rock is a 7-route bouldering crag in Maryland with 6 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

Blue Ridge Summit/Hog Rock Parking Boulders

~2 min drive

9 bouldering routes in Maryland spanning 7 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

Charcoal Exhibition Boulder

~3 min drive

Charcoal Exhibition Boulder is a bouldering crag in Maryland with 19 routes.

CLIMB

Thurmont Vista Boulders/Static Boulders

~3 min drive

Thurmont Vista Boulders/Static Boulders in Maryland has 9 bouldering routes.

CLIMB

Chimney Rock

~3 min drive

Chimney Rock in Maryland has 7 climbing routes with 6 difficulty grades.