Hammond Rocks
- 6 routes
- V0 – V5
- Bouldering
- Apr, Jun
- best months
Hammond Rocks is a bouldering area in Michaux State Forest in Pennsylvania, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. It sits among a cluster of climbing areas in the forest, with Tumbling Run, Cranking Area and Vulture View Area all within about 6.5 miles. The area has six bouldering routes, all rated from V0 to V5 on the V scale. The easiest is Twilight Crack at V0, and the hardest is Honeycomb Moray at V5. The routes include Twilight Ladder and Twilight Arete, which sit at V1+ and V3-. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from the nearby Biglerville weather station show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 77°F, with July peaking near 86°F. That station sits about 777 feet lower than the area, so temperatures at the rocks run cooler. Other climbing areas close by include Tumbling Run at 6.2 miles and Cranking Area at 6.4 miles. Yellow Breeches Creek, a river fishing spot, is about 8.5 miles away.
- Tumbling RunRock climbing6.2 mi
- Cranking AreaRock climbing6.4 mi
- Vulture View AreaRock climbing6.5 mi
- Whiskey SpringsRock climbing6.5 mi
- Entrance AreaRock climbing6.5 mi
- Walnut BottomRock climbing6.5 mi
- Yellow Breeches CreekRiver fishing8.5 mi
- Main WallRock climbing8.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Devils Den, MainRock climbing · ~33 min drivePhoto: Ron Shawley, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Plum RunRock climbing · ~33 min drivePhoto: Ron Shawley, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Tumbling RunRock climbing · ~11 min drive
- Cranking AreaRock climbing · ~11 min drive
- Vulture View AreaRock climbing · ~11 min drive
- Whiskey SpringsRock climbing · ~11 min drive
- Entrance AreaRock climbing · ~11 min drive
- Walnut BottomRock climbing · ~11 min drive
- Main WallRock climbing · ~15 min drive
- White Rock AcresRock climbing · ~16 min drive
Best time to visit Hammond Rocks
Best months: April, 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.
Jan
38° / 22°
10 wet · 4 snow
Feb
41° / 23°
9 wet · 4 snow
Mar
49° / 30°
10 wet · 2 snow
Apr
62° / 41°
12 wet
May
72° / 51°
13 wet
Jun
81° / 60°
11 wet
Jul
86° / 65°
11 wet
Aug
84° / 63°
10 wet
Sep
77° / 56°
9 wet
Oct
65° / 44°
10 wet
Nov
53° / 35°
9 wet
Dec
42° / 27°
10 wet · 2 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Biglerville, PA, 9.2 mi away at 720 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
