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Annapolis Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Annapolis Rock

Argo Rock 5 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Faint's Roof 10 / 0 / 9 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10

Fin Rock 8 / 0 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 9

Nixon's Other Nose 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

PeeWee Tower 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

Scattered Diary 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Scattered Diary 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1

South End, The 12 / 0 / 11 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 12

Sunset Wall 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3

Elevation:	1,800 ft
GPS:	39.5583, -77.59862 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	133,126 total · 847/month
Shared By:	vfv on Apr 17, 2010 · Updates
Admins:	Frances Fierst Page Updates (admin only)

Description

Annapolis Rock, a ca. 50 minute, 2 mile hike up the Appalachian Trail in the backcountry of the South Mountain Recreation Area (South Mountain State Park), is a terrific, short band of western facing cliffs 1800 feet above the Cumberland Valley and Greenbrier Lake near Frederick, MD. The rock is bullet-hard quartzite characterized by smooth bulges and long, horizontal fractures. It's a great Maryland area for TRing and Trad.

The single pitch climbs are often top roped. Long (50+ ft) webbing or static line will serve to anchor to the many boulders and trees atop the cliff. A few large to medium pieces of pro may be helpful for anchoring as well.

There is a backcountry camping area, a privy, and a spring (you might want to treat the water before drinking, or maybe not) on site. The camping area seems to be heavily used.

Getting There

From Baltimore take I-70 West to Exit 42, Myersville (bear right off the ramp). Follow Route 17 through town; it takes a right. At the intersection of Route 40, go left onto Route 40. After about 3 miles you will see parking by the road and a sign for the Appalachian Trail. Park here. Put on your pack and hike the AT north (following signs and white blazes) for about 2 miles. You will see a sign for Annapolis Rock at a short side trail off to the left. You've arrived.

42 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Annapolis Rock

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.3 3+ 10 III 9 VD 3a 19 ● Pound of Obscure Trad, TR Faint's Roof
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a 6 ● Great Adventure Trad PeeWee Tower
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 24 ● Black Hole Sun Trad, TR S End
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 42 ● White Arete Trad, TR S End
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 36 ● Wall of Wander Trad, TR Argo Rock
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13 23 ● Ounce of Perception Trad, TR Faint's Roof
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 69 ● Black Crack Trad, TR S End
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 25 ● Faints roof Trad Faint's Roof
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a 11 ● The BattleField Trad, TR Argo Rock
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13 8 ● The Dragon Trad Sunset Wall
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13 3 ● Cracked Earth Trad, TR Faint's Roof
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b R 6 ● Cynosure Trad, TR S End
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 7 ● Blood and Pus Trad, TR Faint's Roof
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 9 ● Argonaut Trad Argo Rock
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c 6 ● Cynosure Direct Trad, TR S End