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Elevation: 7,704 ft 2,348 m
GPS: 35.2542, -111.62346
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Shared By: Will Cobb on Apr 21, 2006
Admins: Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen
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Description Suggest change

The West Elden climbing area is made up of a 80' tall Dacite cliff which hosts a large number of traditional routes. This climbing expanse houses excellent crack, slab and face climbs of all grades. West Elden has morning shade and afternoon sun. The crag also sits at about 7000' making it a great summertime get away. It is climbable in the fall and spring, but don't' count on it as weather in Flagstaff is difficult to predict.

In his excellent and comprehensive book, A Cheap Way to Fly, Tim Toula breaks West Elden into Uptown, which is north of the fence, and Downtown, which is south of the fence. To aid in the use of his guide I have kept the same labels here.

West Elden Bouldering

Getting There Suggest change

Drive north out of Flagstaff on Highway 180 for about three miles. After passing the Museum of Northern Arizona (which is on the left) look for a right hand turn on to Shultz Pass Road. Take this turn and drive about 1/4 mile to a fork in the road. The left fork continues on Shultz Pass Road while the right is Mount Elden Lookout Road. Take the right fork and drive about three and a half miles to the parking area. Approximately two miles of this drive is on pavement and one and a half miles on a well maintained dirt road. The parking for West Elden is in two pullouts on the right hand side of the road. There is a small kiosk at the first pullout.

42 Total Climbs

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Location: West Elden Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at West Elden

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 18
● PMC
Trad
Uptown
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 59
● Five Easy Pieces
Trad
Uptown
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 16
● Cracktus
Trad
Downtown
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 78
● Right Deception Crack
Trad
Uptown
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 49
● Zit Slab
Trad
Uptown
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13
 15
● Verse in Ragtime
Trad, Sport
Uptown
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 9
● TT's Terror
Trad
Uptown
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 36
● Left Deception
Trad
Uptown
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 20
● Flameout
Trad
Downtown
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 20
● The Prow
Trad
Uptown
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
 17
● Middle Deception Crack
Trad
Uptown
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 17
● La Diosa
Trad
Downtown
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13
 5
● Watermelon
Trad
Downtown
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c PG13
 11
● Twilight Zone
Trad
Downtown
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 10
● Bold is Love
Trad
Uptown
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● PMC Uptown
 18
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad
● Five Easy Pieces Uptown
 59
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad
● Cracktus Downtown
 16
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● Right Deception Crack Uptown
 78
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● Zit Slab Uptown
 49
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
● Verse in Ragtime Uptown
 15
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13 Trad, Sport
● TT's Terror Uptown
 9
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Left Deception Uptown
 36
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Trad
● Flameout Downtown
 20
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Trad
● The Prow Uptown
 20
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
● Middle Deception Crack Uptown
 17
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13 Trad
● La Diosa Downtown
 17
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
● Watermelon Downtown
 5
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13 Trad
● Twilight Zone Downtown
 11
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c PG13 Trad
● Bold is Love Uptown
 10
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad
More Classic Climbs in West Elden »

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Hepcat cruises Bold is Love, a new route at West Elden put up on the lead in April, 2008.
Hepcat cruises Bold is Love, a new route at Wes…
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