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Elevation: 9,248 ft
GPS: 35.3276, -111.7122
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 343,614 total · 3,191/month
Shared By: JJ Schlick on May 24, 2015
Admins: Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen

Description Suggest change

The famed San Francisco Peaks are a southwestern icon, spiritual home of the Kachinas, a sacred site to over thirteen different southwestern indigenous tribes and named by each. The Peaks are also home of the tallest point in Arizona, which is Mt. Humphrey's at close to 13,000'. This beautiful mountain oasis is surrounded by deserts to the north, west, and east, and the worlds largest stand of Ponderosa pines seem to cascade away from the Peaks in all southernly directions like a living lava flow. These mountains are cherished by anyone who spends time in their depths and on their summits.

The Peaks now have five small crags; Hobo Jungle, Ghost Town, Peaks Crag, Secret Garden, and Ricochet. Hobo Jungle has sport and trad routes on good dacite from 5.8 to 5.13 and everything in between. Ghost Town is a backcountry area which is approached by a five mile bike ride, which certainly keeps the crowds down. The Peaks Crag is a beauty which is nestled in a canyon on the south flanks. This isolated area is popular among locals as both good sport routes and trad routes can be had. The place turns magical during the fall months. Secret Garden is a secluded wall with lots of intriguing stone. Though it suffered the affects of the Pipeline Fire in 2022, it is reportedly recovering and the wall was unscathed. Ricochet is a short crag with good steep routes, and easy foot access. The bummer here is that this area burned more severely in the same fire, and its condition does not sound good. It would be advised to inspect any hardware or wait for further reports on the true condition. Access was just restored in the summer of 2023.

 A stratovolcano formed over the course of some 2.8 million years, it had once built itself to an estimated height of 16,000'- 18,000'. Finally the pressure gave, and the volcano exploded and collapsed into itself forming the caldera of The Inner Basin, around 200,000 years ago.

 The Peaks, as locals lovingly call them, hold a great network of trails that will take you not only to the lofty summits, but through unique eco zones, aspen studded canyons and radical ridges. The views, of course, are outstanding. Whether you are looking north towards the Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert, south towards Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona, or admiring the expansive volcanic fields and mounds all around, you will have the sense of being in a holy place. And it is.

  

Getting There Suggest change

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192 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at San Francisco Peaks

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 166
Clean Slate
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 187
New River
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 150
Giggle Drops
Sport
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 150
Mulligan Stew
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 63
Mulligan Pie
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 108
16 Weeks
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 111
Prosthesis
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 117
Be Yourself
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 94
Be the Burn
Sport
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 103
Chasing Dragons
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 79
South of No North
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 45
Burning Point
Sport
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 62
Up in Smoke
Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 47
Black Swan
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 24
Steel Reserve
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Clean Slate Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > N End
 166
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
New River Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > N End
 187
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Giggle Drops Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > S End
 150
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Mulligan Stew Hobo Jungle
 150
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Sport
Mulligan Pie Hobo Jungle
 63
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
16 Weeks Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > N End
 108
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Prosthesis Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > N End
 111
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
Be Yourself Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > N End
 117
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Be the Burn Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > S End
 94
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Chasing Dragons Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > N End
 103
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
South of No North Hobo Jungle
 79
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
Burning Point Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > S End
 45
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Up in Smoke Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > S End
 62
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Sport
Black Swan Peaks Crag > Peaks Crag > N End
 47
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport
Steel Reserve Hobo Jungle
 24
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in San Francisco Peaks »

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