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Sven Slab

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Sven Slab

Submitted By: Orphaned on Feb 3, 2006
Administrators: Greg Opland, James DeRoussel
Elevation: 2,000 feet
Views: 631 page views

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Ski runs up the hawk boulder at sven slabs


Description 

Sven Slab, so named because a Sven saw was used to cut the original trail up to the wall, is probably the most popular granite climbing location near Phoenix after Pinnacle Peak. This is the place to hone those sturdy foot muscles on thin granite crystal and edge climbing. The main wall is home to several nice moderate outings, while the outrigger crag down to the right features some additional harder lines.


Getting There 

Drive south from the intersection of 128th street and Dynamite Road/Rio Verde Drive until you get to a "T", make a left and drive east (high clearance required!!!) until you reach the parking area below Sven Slab. It is possible to drive to the upper area and park there if you want to put your vehicle through it's paces and skip the two minutes it takes to walk up the hill.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Sven Slab:
Quaker Oats   5.5     Sport, 1 pitch, 95 feet   
One for the Road   5.6     Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet   
Browse More Classics in Sven Slab

Featured Route For Sven Slab
Beginning of One for the Road.  Super fun route.

One for the Road 5.6  AZ : McDowell Mountains : Sven Slab
A really fun route on the looker's left end of Sven Slab. It's an obvious right leaning crack going up the left wall of a gully. Longer than it looks. A very enjoyable pitch, with a crux or two, bomber gear, great easy crack climb. Belay from a tree on a big ledge. A guidebook described a 2nd, pitch, it didn't look worth doing. A quick scramble up and to the right puts you on the ridge and a nice summit. Walk climber's left from the ledge and scr...[more]   Browse More Classics in AZ


Photos of Sven Slab Slideshow Add Photo
Jeff on one of the right-most Sven Slab friction routes (I don't know which one, and I just don't care either ;) ) Photo by me.

Jeff on one of the right-most Sven Slab friction r...

Sven Slab

BETA PHOTO: Sven Slab


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By CTK
From: Scottsdale
May 2, 2008

Note : Getting There - "It is possible to drive to the upper area and park there if you want to put your vehicle through its paces and skip the two minutes it takes to walk up the hill." It is no longer possible or appropriate to do the prior, as you will find fencing!

At this time you must park just off the main access road in what are a couple places to park a few vehicles! If you have higher clearance drive further east to the end to conserve low clearance access for others. This area official resides within the boundaries of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and should be treated as such!

By BennyWenny
May 11, 2008

Just a heads up, made an attempt to climb One for the Road yesterday but got chased off by bees that look like they have a hive at the top of the first pitch. My partner and I moved over to the main bolted area, but were still getting harassed by bees.

By CTK
From: Scottsdale
Dec 12, 2008

Still, to this day there are bees, likely Africanized, as they are persistent in there harassment / attacks, still atop and around the Sven’s Slab formation.

By noburu
From: AZ
Nov 8, 2009

Very few bees (like 2 or 3) but no nest today at One for the Road area (11/09)