Catoctin Mountain Climbing

This digital Catoctin Mountain climbing guidebook gives you GPS navigation, verified topos, and beta for hundreds of climbs. Explore classics and hidden gems with offline access to maps, directions, and beta videos. Whether it's your first visit or fiftieth, KAYA makes your Catoctin Mountain days smoother, safer, and more dialed.

Catoctin Mountain National Park is a true Maryland gem. While there aren't THAT many problems here, each area has one to two really highly classic problems on good stone. Standouts include: Bullfrog Arete, Neon Pit Stain, Walk into the Sky, Next Gen, Boss Hog, Slippy Toad, and The General. 

A big wave of development hit Catoctin in the early 2000s by the usual characters: Justin Ridgely, Jeremy Voelkel, Steven Cherneski, Gary truyens, Rodrigo Peterson, Russ and Matt, Tim Rose, Travis Gault, ChetRoy, Kyle Stapp, Smitty, Brian Brotherton, Matt Bosley, Chris Burs... Show more

This digital Catoctin Mountain climbing guidebook gives you GPS navigation, verified topos, and beta for hundreds of climbs. Explore classics and hidden gems with offline access to maps, directions, and beta videos. Whether it's your first visit or fiftieth, KAYA makes your Catoctin Mountain days smoother, safer, and more dialed. Catoctin Mountain National Park is a true Maryland gem. While there aren't THAT many problems here, each area has one to two really highly classic problems on good stone. Standouts include: Bullfrog Arete, Neon Pit Stain, Walk into the Sky, Next Gen, Boss Hog, Slippy Toad, and The General. A big wave of development hit Catoctin in the early 2000s by the usual characters: Justin Ridgely, Jeremy Voelkel, Steven Cherneski, Gary truyens, Rodrigo Peterson, Russ and Matt, Tim Rose, Travis Gault, ChetRoy, Kyle Stapp, Smitty, Brian Brotherton, Matt Bosley, Chris Bursey, and others. The park was then closed, tragically, until 2016 when it was reopened to the rejoice of Maryland climbers everywhere. What followed was a secondary wave of development from myself, Eric Jerome, and friends John Brunson, Robin Close, Justin Pitelski, CGIII, and more. While it appears most of the best climbing in Catoctin has been found and climbed, a newer community has continued to fill in the gaps and climb the less desirable lines throughout the park, often adding them to Mountain Project. While I don't always "agree" with some of the more contrived and link-up lines, I can appreciate that with limited outdoor bouldering resources in the state, it can be fun to move on rock, and I have included a good number of these problems (even though it pains me at times). The Future Roof Project awaits for anyone strong and motivated, and it will surely be the hardest problem in the park. This guide was created in collaboration with Mid-Atlantic Climbers and Catoctin Park Service. 50% of all revenue generated will be donated to MAC. Please be respectful of the boulders that the park has asked climbers to avoid (they aren't the good ones anyway). We want to climb here for decades to come, and being good stewards is a crucial part of the equation! Lastly, the Park requests that if there are any prospective new routes for development that they be brought to Mid Atlantic Climbers for review before establishment. Please follow this guidance, thank you! Enjoy, thanks, Eric. I doubt anyone will read this, since fortunately, Google Maps exists! Do note, Park Central Road often closes seasonally. I will do my best to update this guide with an access banner when applicable, but please do check the NPS website before making the journey in the winter! Directions from Major Population Centers From Washington, D.C.: Take the George Washington Memorial Parkway North to I-495, then I-270 North toward Frederick (about 27 miles). Continue on U.S.-15 North ~17 miles to Thurmont, MD. Exit onto Route 77 West (signed for Catoctin Mountain Park) and drive ~3 miles. Turn right onto Park Central Road to the Visitor Center and main access areas. From Baltimore, MD: Take I-695 to I-70 West toward Frederick. Merge onto U.S.-15 North to Thurmont, then follow Route 77 West and Park Central Road as above. From Hagerstown, MD: Drive I-70 East to Route 66 North, then right on Route 64 to Route 77 East. Continue ~7 miles and turn left on Park Central Road. From Gettysburg, PA: Take U.S.-15 South to Thurmont, exit toward Route 77 West, then right on Park Central Road.