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Blue Ridge Reservoir
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Boat Launch Boulders, The 
Fisherman's Cove 
Hair Pin, The 
Powerline Crag 
Roadside Wall 

Blue Ridge Reservoir  


Photos: Recent | Best | Popular
Elevation: 7,000'
Lat, Long: 34.5549, -111.1952 Map
Page Views: 6,764. Good page? (2 likes)   
Administrators: Greg Opland, James DeRoussel, JJ Schlick, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: JJ Schlick on Oct 6, 2010

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JJ on an unnamed, unnumbered problem in the back w...

Description 

Blue Ridge Reservoir is the head waters of, and the reason that our beloved East Clear Creek flows year round. The lake itself is nestled in deep steep hills of pines, and it's shores are rimmed with limestone boulders.

This is an awesome summertime destination when you want to swim as much as you want to climb. Some of the areas are accessed off of the main road in, but many fine exploratory and scruffy areas exist to those who bring their kayaks/canoes, brushes, pads, and friends.

Also, in very severe drought seasons when the water level drops drastically, there is a submerged layer of smooth limestone that appears. This layer has absolutely excellent bouldering, and is a kind of a 'once in a blue moon' experience.

Back country camping on the lake available at sanctioned sites, and there is also a fee camping area on top of the rim, before you drop down. Free camping on any dirt roads that lead off the main one in.


Getting There 

Blue Ridge Resevoir is approximately 45 miles southwest of Winslow, AZ on the east side of hwy 87. The road in is south of Jacks Canyon rd.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Blue Ridge Reservoir :
Dericious   V1-     Boulder   The Hair Pin
Cats Craw   V2     Boulder, 30 feet   The Hair Pin
Hubcap   5.7     Sport, 1 pitch, 25 feet   Powerline Crag
Black Gold   5.8     Sport, 1 pitch, 30 feet   Powerline Crag
No Preservatives Added   5.8     Sport, 1 pitch, 30 feet   Powerline Crag
Grand Finally   5.9-     Sport, 1 pitch, 30 feet   Powerline Crag
Short Stuff   5.10-     Sport, 1 pitch, 30 feet   Powerline Crag
Gene's Fave   5.10b PG13     Sport, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Powerline Crag
Browse More Classics in Blue Ridge Reservoir

Featured Route For Blue Ridge Reservoir
Kevin on the first ascent of Cats Craw.

Cats Craw V2  AZ : Northern Arizona : ... : The Hair Pin
Start on the left arete, and work up threw a finger crack to slopers.Check your landing, and make sure water levels are adequate. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in AZ


Photos of Blue Ridge Reservoir Slideshow Add Photo
unknown problem south of split rock

unknown problem south of split rock

tombstone bouldering camp on the right

BETA PHOTO: tombstone bouldering camp on the right

High ballers heaven about a hundred yards south of tombstone area.

BETA PHOTO: High ballers heaven about a hundred yards south of...

50 yards south of tombstone boulder

BETA PHOTO: 50 yards south of tombstone boulder

Eagle point

Eagle point

On top of three star wall

On top of three star wall

South side of eagle point/Split rock bouldering area

BETA PHOTO: South side of eagle point/Split rock bouldering ar...

Eagle point/Split rock bouldering area

Eagle point/Split rock bouldering area

"Split rock"

BETA PHOTO: "Split rock"

tombstone bouldering area/great camping

tombstone bouldering area/great camping

Random snow storm blew in had to bail a day early

Random snow storm blew in had to bail a day early

Ran out of gas in the boat....Thanks matt!!

Ran out of gas in the boat....Thanks matt!!

Random deep water solo

Random deep water solo

Matt getting ready to solo unknown problem

Matt getting ready to solo unknown problem

Belly flop!!!!!!!!

Belly flop!!!!!!!!

Map of blue ridge

BETA PHOTO: Map of blue ridge

5.10 Gene's Fave on the Blue Wall

5.10 Gene's Fave on the Blue Wall

can't remember for the life of me which route this was....

can't remember for the life of me which route this...

paddling to the next climb

paddling to the next climb

Above Catfish Boulder

Above Catfish Boulder

D.w.s.

D.w.s.

Water level as of June 21 2012

BETA PHOTO: Water level as of June 21 2012

 Godzirra

BETA PHOTO: Godzirra

25-30 feet of slab climbing.  A few bolts and an anchor, 1/4 mile past Eagle Point. Pic taken from the boat.  Good bouldering above the slab.

BETA PHOTO: 25-30 feet of slab climbing. A few bolts and an a...


Comments on Blue Ridge Reservoir Add Comment
Show which comments
By jeffrey c gibson
From: pheonix az
Oct 8, 2010

Its about time somebody put this place up!!I love blueridge.hikers shack will work with you on kayak rentals,or you can just climb the roadside sport area,but i recomend kayaking into tombstone boulder area.

By Scott Z
From: Peoria, AZ
Oct 8, 2010

Well, Toss on some routes Jeff...you've peaked my interest.

By JJ Schlick
Administrator
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Oct 8, 2010

Yah, I could certainly use some help with common knowledge of this area if anyone knows it. Blue Ridge has been a summertime staple for myself for many years, but have never run into another climber. So while I have visited many of the areas around the lake, I simply don't have any knowledge on the established names and such... I can't wait to learn it though. Please, post up.

By jeffrey c gibson
From: pheonix az
Oct 25, 2010

The highest number of problems are in and around eagle point.To get to eagle point head north east at the launch.Paddle past the dam about 1/4 mile until you see tombstone boulder on your left,and eagle point (best campsite on the lake) on your right.From the shore of eagle point(across the lake to the north east) you can see tombstone boulder,and highballers heaven.From eagle point walk 20 yards west to the entrance of split rock bouldering area.If you continue up the ridge west about 400 yards on an ok trail you will see eagle point wall (sport routes)on your left.

By JJ Schlick
Administrator
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Oct 26, 2010

Awesome Jeff, thanks. Have you ever been to the west end of the north arm of the lake? There are a few chunks back there that I swear are the most beautiful, and archetypal limestone I have seen in AZ. Would be highballs if I remember correctly.

By jeffrey c gibson
From: pheonix az
Oct 27, 2010

Yah and for the most part it remains only about 20% developed.I recomend buying the marty beta for $5 its well worth it.from what i understand there are about 70 problems alone on eagle point,and theres alot of room to develop

By jeffrey c gibson
From: pheonix az
Feb 1, 2012

Just went back in september.Amazing temps, and low water levels made for epic deep water soloing.Some routes topped out at over thirty feet.From what I have seen the water soloing changes as the water level changes, but can almost always be found.Great bouldering circuits line the shores.

By JJ Schlick
Administrator
From: Flagstaff, AZ
May 15, 2012

Just wondering if anyone has been out here recently, and where the water levels are at. Thanks.

By jeffrey c gibson
From: pheonix az
Jun 18, 2012

I just spent the last four days in Tombstone Campsite.The water level is down from last year, but if anything it revealed a few more deep water solo routes.

By TeresaG
From: tucson az
Jul 31, 2012

We were just there this past week. Water levels are down approimately 10-20 ft depending on the area. However, several spots are still plenty deep enough to do some soloing. if not, there are several new problems that are now accessible. Right now however it is raining every day. The clouds roll in the morning but it didnt pour on us till around 4pm. this was like clock work so something to keep in mind.