Elephant Head is a prominent 1000'+ formation on the western edge of the Santa Rita Mountains just south of Tucson. While the area is most popular for bikers and hikers, some adventurous climbing can be done here and in the surrounding area.
A handful of routes ascend the various faces of Elephant Head, and all are a relatively serious undertaking with 'epic' potential. Routefinding can be difficult due to minimal traffic on these routes. Rock quality ranges from excellent to utterly horrible, depending on the terrain. While there are routes ascending the north, west and south sides of the mountain, descents are typically made down the hiker's route, via the saddle east of Elephant Head.
Due to its relatively low elevation, this area is only climbable from autumn to late spring, unless you like heat and punishment.
Getting There
From Tucson, drive I-19 south to exit 56 (Canoa Rd.)near Green Valley. Exit left and drive south on the east frontage road to Elephant Head Rd. Turn left and follow this road through several curves and turns. When it turns to dirt, keep going. At 1.5 miles, take the left fork of the road thru a gate. Drive another 0.4 miles and take a right at crossroad that leads into wash. Park when the road gets really bad. This approach should place you just below the south face. A high clearance vehicle is definitely recommended for this drive.
Elephant Head
Print a Mini-Guide - Includes Routes!
RSS Feed
