Elevation: 3,421 ft
GPS: 33.306, -111.077 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 42,107 total · 267/month
Shared By: Tim Heid on Jan 30, 2006 with updates from Scott ---
Admins: Luke Bertelsen, JJ Schlick, Greg Opland
Access Issue: Must Register! Private Property-The Pond, Atlantis and Mine Area Details

Description

Atlantis is found in a deep cleft on the right just past the big tunnel you go through when driving from Superior in the direction of Globe. The rock tends to be less pocketed and more small edges than a lot of areas at Queen Creek. This is one of the few areas that you can climb at near Phoenix in the summer time, if you show up early and switch sides of the canyon with the shade.

Getting There

Atlantis is reached by parking in a small lot just past the tunnel on the right. It is possible to rap in, but easier to scramble down on the right (BE CAREFUL!!!) on loose ledges to reach the bottom of the canyon and then go left (skiers left) to go into the canyon to the routes.

  • *The preferred hiking descent starts at the access sign on the west end of the parking lot. Follow the reasonably well defined trail down and right passing the occasional cairn, eventually curving back left. The deposits you into the wash a little west of the climbing. Turn left and head 100m to the bulk of the routes.

The old straight down descent is still quite loose scree and has been for years. Perhaps routing more traffic to the **preferred way will establish an improved way in and out...

42 Total Climbs

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Location: Atlantis Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Atlantis

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 16
● Hide and Seek
Trad
Atlantis S Side
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 30
● Ali Cat
Sport
Atlantis S Side
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 90
● First Born
Sport
Atlantis S Side
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 132
● Giggling Marlin
Sport
Atlantis S Side
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 36
● The Trident
Sport 3 pitches
Atlantis S Side
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 85
● Neptune
Sport
Atlantis N Side
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 72
● Grumpy after Eight
Sport
Atlantis S Side
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 3
● Trinity is My Name
Trad
Atlantis N Side
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 52
● KGB
Sport
Atlantis S Side
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 22
● Impending Doom
Sport
Atlantis N Side
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 35
● Schizophrenic Boulevard
Sport
Atlantis N Side
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 17
● Feast and Famine
Sport
Atlantis N Side
5.11- 6c 22 VIII+ 22 E3 5c
 16
● Slap & Tickle
Sport 3 pitches
Atlantis S Side
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 25
● Smokin Guns
Sport
Atlantis N Side
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a PG13
 4
● Public Hanging
Sport
Atlantis N Side
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Hide and Seek Atlantis S Side
 16
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● Ali Cat Atlantis S Side
 30
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
● First Born Atlantis S Side
 90
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Giggling Marlin Atlantis S Side
 132
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● The Trident Atlantis S Side
 36
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport 3 pitches
● Neptune Atlantis N Side
 85
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Grumpy after Eight Atlantis S Side
 72
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Trinity is My Name Atlantis N Side
 3
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Trad
● KGB Atlantis S Side
 52
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Impending Doom Atlantis N Side
 22
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Schizophrenic Boulevard Atlantis N Side
 35
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Feast and Famine Atlantis N Side
 17
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● Slap & Tickle Atlantis S Side
 16
5.11- 6c 22 VIII+ 22 E3 5c Sport 3 pitches
● Smokin Guns Atlantis N Side
 25
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Public Hanging Atlantis N Side
 4
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a PG13 Sport
More Classic Climbs in Atlantis »

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Photos

Looking into the slot from the entrance.
Looking into the slot from the entrance.
 0
The Trident 3p, 5.9.
The Trident 3p, 5.9.
 0
Our little friend at the base of Smoking Guns
Our little friend at the base of Smoking Guns
 0
Stitched panorama showing the heart of Atlantis. Most routes are in visible area, 'Mondo Freako', 'Unknown 5.6' and 'Mickey Mouse' are ~15 yds off to the right of this.
Stitched panorama showing the heart of Atlantis…
 0
Water crossing - July '08
Water crossing - July '08
 0
Pool entering Atlantis- July '08
Pool entering Atlantis- July '08
 0
Atlantis Pools during monsoon weather (July '08)
Atlantis Pools during monsoon weather (July '08)
 0
Me on top of first born at the end of the day during an amazing sunset
Me on top of first born at the end of the day d…
 0
Waterfall at the end of Atlantis. The creek and pool were crystal clear.
Waterfall at the end of Atlantis. The creek and…
 0

13 Comments

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Ben Beard
Superior, AZ
Ben Beard   Superior, AZ
as of Aug 17, 2010, there is another car at the bottom of Atlantis. White Lexus, no one inside (no blood, nothing). Just above the dam/waterfall. Aug 17, 2010
Peter Franzen
Phoenix, AZ
Peter Franzen   Phoenix, AZ  
Lots of rotten rock here, even on the more established routes.

Great place to get out of the sun though! Oct 17, 2011
drjordan
drjordan  
I found a wedding ring down here. Anyone have any info? Nov 30, 2012
Toby Wehler
Indianapolis, IN
Toby Wehler   Indianapolis, IN
Forgot my 5.10s here on Saturday (4/5)...likely near the base of Neptune. My climbing buddy and I left at noon just as some different groups arrived. If someone from the MP universe happened to pick em up and are willing to return them, I would greatly appreciate it (anasazi vcs V2 size US11.5). Apr 10, 2014
K-Tanz
Phoenix, AZ
K-Tanz   Phoenix, AZ
As of 8/24/14 a lot of the routes are underwater. You can work around almost all of the water with the exception of the easy routes on the extreme northwest side.
Atlantis H2O


Water
Oct 25, 2014
Joshua Munoz
Honolulu, HI
Joshua Munoz   Honolulu, HI
Not sure why there are so many 3 star routes. The rock quality is poor and the eye bolts are SO old and rusted. Almost every bolt spun on me. This is not a place you want to be falling on lead. Save yourself and just go to the pond. Mar 31, 2016
ErikF
ErikF  
Dear Climbers:

We love climbing at The Pond, Atlantis and the Mine area. They are favorites for most of us who climb in the Queen Creek area. These areas have been the private property of Resolution Mining Company and its predecessors since the 1960's or earlier. Climbing on this private property, The Pond, Atlantis, and parts of the Mine areas now requires that you register in order to gain legal access. This is an easy process. You can do this at:queencreekclimbing.com.

Registration does not mean that you endorse the Mine or Land Exchange. It is simply the way that climbers can access the private property without trespassing. This system was anticipated and agreed to under the Recreational Use License signed by the Access Fund covering the time period 2006 to 2011, and by Queen Creek Coalition’s current Recreational Use License with Resolution Copper that allows climbers on the private property.

Registration is an easy process where you go to the website, read a couple pages of information, and then sign an electronic form and waiver that you understand the rules that apply and that you agree to abide by them. You will receive an email in response from which you can download either an electronic copy or a hardcopy of your registration. It would be good for you to retain these and present them to the authorities on site if ever requested; however, it is also anticipated that the list of registrants will be stored by Queen Creek Coalition for any future verification.

This is a one-time and free process so once you are registered you are good to go.

You can read more about this process and the announcement at the Queen Creek Coalition website –theqcc.org or the Queen Creek Coalition’s Facebook page - facebook.com/Queen-Creek-Co…

The Queen Creek Coalition Dec 13, 2016
Jordan White
Jordan White  
My favorite climb around! The rock is great. Many people are saying its poor...maybe they need easier routes? Yes some bolts spin and are old, but new bolts are being added often. Many bolts are still solid. Use your judgement. Really few areas to TR but a crap ton of leading and trad routes. There are anchor bolts at the top of many lead routes. Apr 26, 2017
ErikF
ErikF  
There is now signage at The Pond and Atlantis indicating the need for climbers to register.
scontent.fphx1-2.fna.fbcdn.… Jul 23, 2017
Tim Heid
AZ
Tim Heid   AZ
Does anyone have feelings on sorting this area into a North side and a South side, similar to that of Winslow Wall? Additionally, I'd be happy to sort the routes in order if an Admin wants to allow me that ability or wants me to send them the list... Nov 20, 2017
Aaron Townsley
Scottsdale, Arizona
Aaron Townsley   Scottsdale, Arizona
FYI the Rap in is pretty sketchy to get to, especially with a full pack. Dec 14, 2017
Nat Kasper
Nat Kasper  
Last Thursday, 1/18, I left a set of quickdraws on "brush your teeth" when a friend had a bad accident and we had to leave for the hospital in a hurry. When I came back to look for them a few days later they were gone.
Please message me if you know what happened to them. I left 5 Grivel Beta Easys and 2 Omegalites at the chains.
Thank you Jan 27, 2018
Michael Hitzel
Phoenix, AZ
Michael Hitzel   Phoenix, AZ
Found a silver ring (wedding ring?) at the base of Ali Cat on 6/17/18. If you lost it, let me know! Jun 19, 2018