Pennsylvania · Rock climbing · Salisbury Township

The Brain

5 routes
V1 – V8
Bouldering
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

The Brain is a bouldering area in Pennsylvania, set within Big Rock Park. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots in and around the Bauer Rock area, which makes it an easy addition to a day spent on the rock here. The climbing is all bouldering, with seven routes in total. Grades run from V1 to V8, with the easiest at V1 and the hardest at V8. Some of the routes include Superego Royal Jelly at V1 and Peace Sign Roof at V8. That range makes the area a draw for boulderers of different skill levels. The closest neighbors are Bauer Rock (South Mountain) and Bauer Rock painted rocks, both about 0.1 mile away, and Behind Bauer at 0.3 mile. Hikers can find the Sustenance Trail and Spicebush Swallowtail Trail about 0.9 mile off.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit The Brain

    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

      37° / 19°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      40° / 20°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 27°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      61° / 38°

      12 wet

    5. May

      70° / 49°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      78° / 58°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 62°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 61°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 54°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 43°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 33°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      42° / 25°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Springtown 1 Nne, PA, 8.3 mi away at 860 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (5)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

f. Cramped FacePhoto: Andrew Gnias, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

f. Cramped Face

~34 min drive

f. Cramped Face in Pennsylvania has 8 climbing routes on 6 difficulty grades.

Ralph Stover State Park (High Rocks)Photo: Andrew Gnias, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ralph Stover State Park (High Rocks)

~34 min drive

13 climbing routes in Pennsylvania, 12 difficulty grades, bouldering, sport, top-rope, and trad.

o. Chain Reaction ButtressPhoto: Andrew Gnias, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

o. Chain Reaction Buttress

~34 min drive

8 routes at o. Chain Reaction Buttress in Pennsylvania span 5 grades, offering sport, top-rope, and trad climbing.

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Bauer Rock (South Mountain)

Next door

Bauer Rock (South Mountain) in Pennsylvania has 14 bouldering routes.

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Behind Bauer

Next door

7 bouldering routes in Pennsylvania, difficulty grades 6.

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Main Area

~4 min drive

Main Area is a Pennsylvania climbing crag with 25 bouldering routes.

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Emmaus Boulders

~4 min drive

Emmaus Boulders in Pennsylvania has 6 bouldering routes across 5 grades.

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North Mountain

~20 min drive

North Mountain in Pennsylvania has 16 climbing routes across 7 grades.

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The Outliers

~21 min drive

6 bouldering routes at Outliers, The in Pennsylvania.

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Of Mice and Men Area

~22 min drive

6 bouldering routes in Pennsylvania spanning 4 difficulty grades.