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Oak Creek Canyon
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Oak Creek Canyon 


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Submitted By: JJ Schlick on May 27, 2008

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Oak Creek Canyon, AZ. March 09.

Description 

Oak Creek Canyon is a Grand Daddy of Mogollon Rim drainages! It takes root in Flagstaff, but really starts just south of town in Pumphouse Wash. Then it runs all the way down until it opens up at the entry of Munds Canyon from the east rim, and empties into Sedona... This canyon holds a myriad of side canyons, sub drainages, and a staggering amount of stone, climbing, exploration, and adventure to be had right off the heals of HWY 89.

There really is something for everyone in this canyon, starting out with the treasure of moderate traditional climbs to be found at the The Overlook. If you are learning to place gear, and get some leads under your belt, this is a fantastic area to create a foundation. Also a wonderful place to rip through them and enjoy the view for a day. Moderates hold the majority. I have moved this area to the Flagstaff Crags Section due to it's proximity to town. Though this area clearly marks the entrance from the north, into Oak Creek Canyon.

Youngharz on the exposed moves out to the arete on Angels Delight.
Youngharz on the exposed moves out to the arete on Angels Delight.
Submitted By: Flex on Oct 25, 2007


If you are looking for sport routes, then you have the options of exploring Pumphouse Wash, and the Doctor's Office... Though the sandstone is soft, there are some excellent routes to discover, and some out of the way CLASSIC lines to track down... Pumphouse Wash is also the stunning showcase of the "Ultimates"... These lines are an almost fabled collection of cherished, traditional routes that will test the best, up to 5.11+ fingers, and some burly offwidth if you are so inclined... There is a lot to see down there, and some excellent "hot summer" swimming holes as well...
Megan at the crux of Short Asst
Megan at the crux of Short Asst
Submitted By: manuel rangel on Jun 26, 2008


The Waterfall Area boasts some 80+ routes now, trad and mixed, with the majority of them going down in the 5.11+/.12- range... Indeed! You can expect splitter cracks, steep jug hauls, and very thin technical lines! The climbing really starts at solid 5.10 trad, and only gets exponentially better from there! Bring a 70M rope, a robust rack, and your game! Not a place for the faint of heart.
Josh Janes on the Terminator 5.12
Josh Janes on the Terminator 5.12
Submitted By: JJ Schlick on Mar 4, 2008


And, on top of all that, if you want to get in a superb sandstone bouldering session, The Anvil Boulders are a collection of wonderful and rare blocks all conveniently (or maybe not so because of the creek crossing?) located 200 yards on the East side of Oak Creek just a hop and skip drive north out of Sedona. V-easy to V-super-hard- inspiring! Some very cool steep lines! Find this area in the Northern AZ Bouldering section.
Shot taken by Ian Kiersey.
Shot taken by Ian Kiersey.
Submitted By: James Brand on Mar 13, 2011


Oak Creek Canyon is a treasure to many, and a focal point to climbers in this area for harboring a wide variety of crags, which can be intimidating, but also accessible year round, if you play your cards right. It is an awesome place to visit, and climb in, and an arduous place to explore off the beaten path! Watch out for tourists, rattle snakes, rock fall, hard approaches- and mellow ones, slow drivers (with their cameras stuck outside the window), soft sandstone, hard sandstone, and impeccable stone as well...!

There is obviously much more to be found in this expansive canyon than is listed here.... Be ready to "earn your burns", and engage with an environment that always seems to be coming after you! Yah, you personally...

An intriguing landscape!


Getting There 

Take 89 south from Flagstaff, or north from Sedona.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Oak Creek Canyon:
The Sword   5.10     Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet   The Waterfall : The Left Wall
Black and Tan   5.10     Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet   The Waterfall : The Main Amphitheater
Book Of Friends   5.10c     Trad, 3 pitches, 250 feet   Miscellaneous Routes
Smoke Big Doobs, Suck Big Boobs   5.10+     Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet   The Waterfall : The Left Wall
Engagement   5.10+     Trad, 6 pitches, 500 feet   Miscellaneous Routes
Spite and Malice   5.10+     Trad, 1 pitch, 115 feet   The Waterfall : The Left Wall
Lord Humongous   5.11     Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet   The Waterfall : The Main Amphitheater
False Prophet   5.11     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 90 feet   The Waterfall : The Main Amphitheater
Vertebrae   5.11     Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet   The Waterfall : The Left Wall
Death and Taxes   5.11+     Trad, 1 pitch, 115 feet   The Waterfall : The Main Amphitheater
Natural Enhancement   5.11+     Trad, 1 pitch, 130 feet   The Waterfall : The Right Wall
Resurrection   5.11+     Trad, 1 pitch, 115 feet   The Waterfall : The Right Wall
Ultimate Finger Crack   5.11+ PG13     Trad, 1 pitch, 165 feet, Grade II   Pumphouse Wash : The Ultimates/Mexican Pocke...
Into The Wild   5.12a     Trad, 9 pitches, 900 feet   Miscellaneous Routes
American Caesar   5.12-     Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet   The Waterfall : The Right Wall
Super Chronic   5.12-     Trad, 1 pitch, 115 feet   The Waterfall : The Double Clutching Wall
Terminator   5.12     Trad, 1 pitch, 100 feet   The Waterfall : The Left Wall
Synethesia AKA Linger Fickin Good!   5.12+     Trad, 1 pitch, 90 feet   The Doctor's Office & The P...
There Will Be Blood   5.12+     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 100 feet   The Waterfall : The Main Amphitheater
The Center of Singularity   5.13b     Sport, 1 pitch   Slide Rock State Park
Browse More Classics in Oak Creek Canyon

Featured Route For Oak Creek Canyon
Perhaps the best basalt pitch in Arizona: Tomas Robison stems wide on the ultra-classic Black and Tan.

Black and Tan 5.10  AZ : Northern Arizona : ... : The Main Amphitheater
Furthest route right on the right side of the ampitheater. It is easily discernible by the double roofs at the top of the pitch. Start climbing up blocky rock/with cracks to the start of the dihedral. From there, jam, stem, and pull to the first roof which is the crux. Exiting the right side requires a big move... The next roof is cruiser in comparison. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in AZ


Photos of Oak Creek Canyon Slideshow Add Photo
A general overview of the layout of the Oak Creek Canyon Crags.

A general overview of the layout of the Oak Creek ...

West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon. <br />route shown "Grapes of Wrath". identified by the striking wide splitter of pitch 2.

BETA PHOTO: West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon.
route shown "Grapes...



Comments on Oak Creek Canyon Add Comment
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By Richard Fernandez
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Jun 11, 2009

Looking for info/history on Pumphouse area, specifically the lower section accessed from the bridge, anyone? There seems to be a bit of work put into some fun routes, also stumbled upon a hidden .12 or .13, yikes, looks stellar! Thanks!

Richard