Mountain Project: Climbing Northern Arizona

Tucked back on the east side of the San Francisco Peaks and north of Lockett Meadow is a small and secluded andesite/dacite crag called the Hobo Jungle. Hobo Jungles are camps of transient hobo communities, which congregate usually near a railroad. The hobo culture is quite elaborate and intriguing having aspects not too different than those of the climbing community. If you are more interested in hobohemia and an internet search isn't enough, check out the documentary "The American Hobo".

The climbing at the Jungle has been described as a �mini-Peaks� (shhh!) with climbs of all grades from powerful sport problems like Sweet Back, Volt, and Redball to a few trad adventures like Bindlestiff and Twist a Dream. Don't miss out on the crag's classics Southern Exposure and Mulligan Stew.

Facing mostly east and in national forest land, the Hobo Jungle is a wonderful afternoon crag, though the left side routes get cool morning shade.

Getting There

The Hobo Jungle is a 30 minute drive from Flagstaff. Take 89 north out of Flag towards Page. After a little over 11 miles from the Hwy 40 junction, turn left on FR 545 (right is Sunset Crater). At the T after a half mile, turn right on FR 552 (left goes towards Schultz Pass). Follow this heavily washboarded road for a mile as it gradually bends left. Turn right on FR 418, and follow this for about 2.5 miles as it wraps around to a hairpin and lone boulder marker on the right. Turn LEFT and park in the parking area and popular campsite. From here, a casual 15 minute flip-flop stroll south along the jeep trail dead-ends to a nice clearing, and the Hobo Jungle crag on your right. NO MOTOR VEHICLES according to the Coconino National Forest Trails Map. Follow a path across the wash to the right end of the crag at the Hobo Cave and wonderful congregating spot, underneath the proud overhanging and thin bolted face of Steel Reserve. An alternate low trail follows the wash to the south and left end routes, featuring South of No North and A-No.1.

The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Hobo Jungle:

Hungry Hungry Hobo 5.8- Sport, 100 feet

Phil's Route 5.9 Sport, 65 feet

Late For the Gravy Train 5.9 Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet

Elk Sign 5.10- Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet

Bindlestiff 5.10- Trad, 90 feet

Gandy Dancer 5.10 Sport, 70 feet

Southern Exposure 5.10 Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet

Twist a Dream 5.10+ Trad, 100 feet

Road Sister 5.10d Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet

Redball 5.11- Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet

Mulligan Stew 5.11- Sport, 75 feet

Frisk A Drag 5.11- Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet

A No.1 5.11b Sport, 1 pitch, 70 feet

Volt 5.11+ Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet

Lucky Streak 5.11+ Sport, 70 feet

Tin Roof Sunday 5.11d Trad, 85 feet

South of No North 5.12- Sport, 75 feet

Sweet Back 5.12- Sport, 1 pitch, 75 feet

Pie in the Sky 5.12 Trad, Sport, 90 feet

Steel Reserve 5.13b/c Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet

Comments on Hobo Jungle

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Comments displayed oldest to newest — Skip Ahead to the Most Recent Dated Aug 28, 2012

By rob pizem
Jun 11, 2012

Great job D-ron, looks like a nice zone with some featured rock. Way to put the time in and get people psyched!

By JJ Schlick
Administrator
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Jun 11, 2012

Awesome Darren! Thanks for all the hard work, and for sharing the vision. This gentle canyon is destined to work it's way into the hearts of many.

By Eric D
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Jun 12, 2012

Nice work with this place Darren! Thanks for sharing and overall making this a good-time for everyone to contribute to, it's been a blast seeing the place develop.

By Darren Mabe
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Jun 12, 2012

Big thanks also to Phil Rullman who found this hidden gem, realized the potential and brought me there last year to help put up new routes. We bolted the project above the hobo cave together as the first route. Welcome to the jungle! It has been great seeing the character of the routes develop and to give back to the positive and welcoming energy of the community.

By Darren Mabe
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Jun 27, 2012

the hobo project ("Steel Reserve") was sent yesterday by Sam Davis! way to go!

By hamlincheese
Jul 4, 2012

A few days ago, at sunset, we witnessed approximately 500 bats fly out of the hole with all the chirping on Westbound Willy. Quite a site and certainly wouldn't want to be up on route when this happens again! Stick around to see it.

By 1Eric Rhicard
Jul 9, 2012

Thanks for a great little area guys. Had a blast meeting you and climbing. Let me know when you are coming down.

By arjunmh
From: Phoenix, AZ
Jul 22, 2012

Agreed! The area is terrific and you'll have done a great job setting some really fun routes. Can't wait to get back and get on some more. Really fun meeting and climbing and thankfully the rain on sprinkled a wee bit!! Thanks for all the hard work and I'm excited to have gotten up there after hearing such good things from folks. Right on!

By JMo
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Jul 23, 2012

Big rock candy mountains, Darren, JJ, Colin, Phil and everyone thanks for the Branch Line

By Mark Mueller
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Jul 23, 2012

Gah! got rained out today!

By Mike Zeugirdor
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Jul 24, 2012

Please pick up after your selves your mother doesnt live at this crag..or does she? either way lets keep this spot lookin good and clear of plastic bottles!

By JJ Schlick
Administrator
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Jul 26, 2012

Many of the anchors at the Hobo Jungle are designed to employ two FIXED biners. PLEASE do not take any carabiners off of any anchor, unless you are planning on immediately replacing it with one of yours.

By Trad Nanny
Jul 27, 2012

I think it's good to add in big bold capital letters, DO NOT TOP ROPE ON FIXED BINERS!. Use only to lower or better yet just rappel. Good job camo-ing those as well gentleman. Might want to zip tie those biners so people get the message.

By Joel Hickok
Aug 17, 2012

Appreciate the sharing and the donations. Pretty fun so far.

By Red
From: Arizona
Aug 27, 2012

Does anyone have beta on the route just to the right of Cat Wagon? Is it a proj? It seems to be the only route not listed here.

By Colin Cox
Aug 27, 2012

Hey Red...that's a route that Bloom and Crawley started and found to be v10 in the start, to 5.11 forced up the arete. Bolting is unfinished.

By john crawley
From: flagstaff, az
Aug 27, 2012

Red. The route will be posted and added as a project after it is finished being bolted. The route is a v7 to a v10 followed by easy, but really fun climbing.

By Red
From: Arizona
Aug 28, 2012

Thanks. That line looks sweet! ...and burl... Good luck to the FA!

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Hobo Jungle

Description

Getting There

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The Classics