With a quick approach and lots of moderate climbs, The Nursery is a great crag for an easy day and a place you can take new climbers. As of winter 2025, the routes have been retrobolted making them leadable. If you prefer, you can still toprope most of the routes by hiking to the top of each formation and setting up anchors.
The climbs are bolted safely enough that new leaders should be able to enjoy them without getting too far out of their comfort zone, and if you have a taste for trad there are several routes ranging from 5.5 to low 5.10.
As well as many moderates, there are also a few climbs in the 5.10 range and a stronger climber should be able to have a fun day here as well.
While some of the routes get morning shade, the majority of the area is south facing and will get sun all day so be mindful of the weather. I have found the crag to be most comfortable when the high is below 70 degrees in Tucson.
Each anchor is equipped with steel carabiners for easy lowering, but please bring your own draws for toproping so we can preserve the fixed hardware. Enjoy!
Park at either the Green Slabs pullout or the next pullout up the mountain. There is a prominent road cut between these two pullouts, with a guardrail on the west side of the road. At the north end of the guardrail, you will see a few stepstones which mark the beginning of the approach trail. Start hiking up the steep hillside and The Nursery is the very first crag you see.
Approach time is about 5 minutes for an average party.
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San Antonio, TX
Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Tucson/DMR
Tucson, AZ
i think it's ok. he seems pretty legit to me. Apr 4, 2010
San Antonio, TX
Tucson/DMR
Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
-John Jan 4, 2011
Look across road. Trail starts at the end of the guard rail. Look up, grab rock and throw. You will hit the Nursery rock. Jan 4, 2011
1) Location: To make things more exact, the pullout is just after where the road crosses between two rock formations, just before mile marker 10.
2) I was very happy with the climbs on TB and RT. The base of TB is on its way toward kid-friendliness, but isn't there yet. I cleared away a lot of dead bushes and choss, but there's still work to be done. (Also, it seems like "Climber Jumped Over The Roof" starts in a bush.)
3) I was toprope soloing, but had I been toproping I would have been a bit freaked out during the lower about the many sharp ledges on TB and the north side of Rapunzel. Be mindful of this when you climb.
4) I loved the master rap station on TB. Thumb up on the clever idea. Toprope access to Rapunzel involves a pretty (very) sketchy move, however.
5) I'm not sure whether the anchor situation on Traditional Fairytale (RT) has been resolved, but the anchors that I saw on TB and RT looked bomber.
Thanks for opening up this area. The two minute approach time is awesome! Jan 29, 2012
Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Great crag for beginners that's not far from the road and offers a good amount of exposure! Worth checking out! Feb 25, 2025