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Elevation: 2,500 ft 762 m
GPS: 32.33746, -110.69046
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 1,022,277 total · 5,364/month
Shared By: James DeRoussel on Jul 11, 2010 · Updates
Admins: adrian montaño, Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen

Description Suggest change

This area covers climbs from the bottom of the highway (milepost 0) up to Kessler's Corner (milepost 8.6).

The lower portion of the Catalina Highway offers varied climbing in a Sonoran Desert setting. Warm temps among towering saguaro cactus make climbing here a unique experience.

Rock quality in this area tends to be poorer and more varied than higher on the mountain, so take that under consideration. Still, in the winter months, the crags here are hard to beat for climate and accessibility.

Getting There Suggest change

From Tanque Verde Road take the Catalina HIghway (General Hitchcock Highway) heading NNE.

788 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: 1 - Lower Highway Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at 1 - Lower Highway

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V8 7B
 11
Hammer of Hate
Boulder
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 153
Guanica
Sport 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 192
Walking the Plank
Sport
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 77
Blood Book
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 93
Virgin's Airline
Sport
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 162
Go Speed Racer
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 182
Armed Robbery
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 69
Solar E-clips
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 11
Et tu, Brute?
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 15
While Rome Burned
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 15
Perfect Storm
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 36
Treason on the Tiber
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 93
Sentenced To Hang
Sport
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 11
Ebb and Flow
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 6
She-Wolf
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Hammer of Hate Molino Basin Boulders
 11
V8 7B Boulder
Guanica Hairpin Turn Area > Left Hand Wall
 153
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport 2 pitches
Walking the Plank Crags Against H… > Draw Pile.
 192
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Blood Book Forgotten Wall, Contr…
 77
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Virgin's Airline Forgotten Wall, Contr…
 93
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Go Speed Racer Hairpin Turn Area > Pinhead Wall
 162
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport
Armed Robbery Prison Camp (Go… > Jailhouse Rock
 182
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
Solar E-clips Sun Spot Crags
 69
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Et tu, Brute? Colosseum > Obelisk
 11
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
While Rome Burned Colosseum > Obelisk
 15
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Perfect Storm Weathertop
 15
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
Treason on the Tiber Colosseum > Aqueducts- Main Wall
 36
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
Sentenced To Hang Prison Camp (Go… > Jailhouse Rock
 93
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Ebb and Flow Colosseum > Aqueducts- Main Wall
 11
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
She-Wolf Colosseum > Pantheon
 6
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in 1 - Lower Highway »

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