Details

The Thurmont Watershed is located just south of the town of Thurmont, Maryland. TWS Rocks is the main climbing area with approximately 80 routes on walls 40-45 feet tall.  Climbing here is mainly top roping, with good routes from 5.6 to 5.11. A few trad leads are possible.

There are also a few routes and boulder problems at Down Range Rocks and Bear Rocks.  Both these areas have longer approaches.

Approach: The approach starts at the intersection of Pryor Road and a fire road located here. . There are 3-4 parking spaces just up the fire road, and there is ample parking along both wide shoulders of Pryor Road. The approach is fairly short and usually takes 15-20 minutes. It follows the fire road up a gentle grade for about 3/4 mile then leaves the fire road to cross a stream on the right and follow the faint climbers’ trail another quarter mile to the cliff.

Recommended Top Roping Gear: Most anchors can be set from trees with the usual TR anchor materials (100′ static and a pair of locking biners for the master point). There are some anchor bolts at the main TWS cliff – Ed Rocks – because the good trees are far back and behind a thick row of rhododendron. Most of these bolts are on the top (horizontal) surface and will need to be extended over the lip and well padded.

Guidebooks:

The routes at these cliffs are described in Maryland Climbs Vol 1 by Mark ’Indy’ Kochte   and on Mountainproject.