All Locations > Maryland > Cunningham Falls SP

Cunningham Falls Bouldering

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Cunningham Falls

Chief Block 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Gateway Fin 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Jabba the Hutt Boulder 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Knife Wall 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3

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Elevation:	1,345 ft	410 m
GPS:	39.63512, -77.46655 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	16,195 total · 160/month
Shared By:	Chris Peterson on Nov 6, 2016
Admins:	Frances Fierst, C S Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

Access Update: This area (Knifewall, Chief Block, Gateway Fin) is closed to climbing as of December 2021

More details Here: midatlanticclimbers.org/new…

The Cunningham Falls area of Catoctin Mountain Park is located north of Foxville Road (MD 77) near Cunningham Falls, just north of the junction of Falls Nature Trail and Hog Rock Nature Trail. Many problems are located in the rock- and tree-choked ravine right by the road, with many more uphill from there. Downed trees and leaves, loose talus on the ground, and some underbrush make this a wilder experience than more-trafficked areas in the park, but the concentration of boulders and short faces make this an ideal destination.

The approach is a flat 1.4 mile (1.9 km) hike from the Visitor Center, or a steep downhill 1.4 mile (2.2 km) hike from the Hog Rock Parking area.

Getting There

To find the crag itself, find the junction of the Hog Rock Nature Trail and the Falls Nature Trail (there is a sign). Follow the rail uphill towards Hog Rock for approximately 200' (60 m). Turn off the trail left when you reach a large slab of rock in the trail's center (just before the steep uphill section) and bushwhack 200' (60 m) to the first small outcrop (Gateway Fin). Outcroppings run Northwest to Northeast from there, with the first (Jabba the Hutt aka Diamondface Boulder) being visible through the trees from Gateway Fin.

NOTE: If climbing with partners, there is an option to drop off gear and people near the crag. Follow Foxville Road (MD 77) West from the Visitor Center for just over a mile to a a sharp bend in the road. There is a small parking and staging area on the left-hand (South) shoulder. All of the parking is designated for handicapped vehicles destined for nearby Cunningham Falls (the actual waterfall), but other vehicles have space to pull off and unload quickly. Drop off your friends and pads here so only one person needs to make the hike to the crag.