The Acropolis Rock Climbing
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Elevation: | 3,565 ft |
GPS: |
33.40224, -111.38367 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
Page Views: | 6,200 total · 50/month |
Shared By: | bio on Jan 13, 2014 · Updates |
Admins: | Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen |
Access Issue: PLACING BOLTS IS ILLEGAL IN THE SUPERSTITION WILDERNESS!
Details
In the early '90's the USFS banned all placement of bolts in the Superstition Wilderness. This unfortunately includes replacement of existing bolts. Violating this ban may result in climbing restrictions on this beautiful area. Please think twice and go bolt somewhere else.
Description
An unforgiving landscape of volcanic cliffs separated by steep, loose dirt and talus, all guarded by abrasive and well-armed plants. The Acropolis has a southwestern exposure, making it perfect for winter. If an adventure fix is what you're needing, you'll get a good dose here. Climbing here is 3/4 approach and 1/4 climbing, although the climbing is epic worthy due to its route finding challenges. To summarize, if you succeed in climbing to the top of this wall, everything goes as planned, and you return to your car in daylight, you may have just earned an advanced degree in the art of backcountry chosspile adventure climbing. Expect 2.5 hours for the approach, unless you can fly. If you are a badass you might shave it down to 2 hours but you probably aren't.
Getting There
Go to Peralta Road and drive past the housing development, keep going. About a mile before the Peralta trail parking area is a gated pull off. Park there are look north woefully toward your eventual destination. You'll see a group of tower in the distance, The Acropolis is the furthest left/west. Follow the trail, the first 15 minutes or so is easy, enjoy it while it lasts. As the trail thins start looking for cairns, follow them as they lead toward a fairly well established trail that takes you up a trail on the right side of a large wash. Look for a trail/cairn to follow left to break across the wash when convenient, then start making your way up the steep hillside toward Carney Springs wall, the first wall in the large band of walls. Aim generally toward the second of the walls with the whitish base, if you think there's an easy way good luck finding it. Once at the white base take a breather then continue left/west along that level, staying above the cliff band below. Continue on that path in your battle with cactus and gravity until your past another large grouping of walls, then finally the Acropolis. There are cairns all over, some are helpful, some not so much. You have to go past the base of it a bit before you can circle up and turn back and surmount a cliff band that sits at it's base. You'll see a boulder leaning against a slab that you can scramble up and cut back over to hike above the cliff you were just under. That ledge leads to the climbs. It's a long hike, take time to admire the scenery, the smell of your sweat, the jumping cholla stuck to your partners shoes, etc..
Classic Climbing Routes at The Acropolis
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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Photos
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