The Steep Rock Climbing

Since the 2020 fire cleared out tons of old vegetation and debris, it may be that the old approach is obsolete. 

Park at Marshall Gulch (gate is closed from Dec 15 to Mar 1 making for fewer parking spaces and a longer hike). Just because the sign says it opens Mar 1, don't count on that. A snowy year could delay that by a month or so.

As of June 2024...

Take the Aspen trail south out of Marshall gulch. After 5 or so min you will see the NEW wilderness boundary sign. Keep going. After 5 more minutes of walking thru the fern/aspen jungle the trail will swing sharply right and up. At this point, BACKTRACK about 50 feet and look for the jump-off point steeply down and east from the main trail. This is the path to Echo, Delta and the Steep.

After 100 yards or so on this path you will hit the ridge crest and you can see Ireland way across Sabino canyon.  There is also a BIG stump here with a big cairn on it. Turn south at the big stump and follow cairns, footprints and blazes until you can see the top of The Steep to the south. Approaching this way you will be looking at Spiderman as you near the crag, but then the path drifts a bit right and uphill, and deposits you at Bunkweed.

This path takes you VERY near to the Echo crag.  The path to the Steep passes just 50 yards west and above Echo.

It takes 15 min to get to the ridge crest near Echo. 10 or 15 more will get you to The Steep.

The firebreak is no longer all wiped out and bare. It is dense with nasty new growth. But there IS a path through. The big cairned stump is also overgrown. Go slightly past it, then head south (through much less growth). Soon you will see the top of the Steep. Allow a half hour from car.