Solitude Canyon Rock Climbing

Solitude Canyon is a major rift on the western flanks of Mt. Elden and is quite conspicuous from a number of vantage points around the west side of town. This is the first canyon west of the Devil’s Chair formation and Gloria’s Boulders. With its west and south facing cliffs this canyon is climbable year round for the most part, and it is has become a sport climbing refuge nestled right in the backyard of Flagstaff.

The Solitude Wall boasts thirty+ routes which usually involve body english, crimp strength, and a mind for puzzles. Unique dihedrals line up with steep aretes to offer up burly routes which often times feature true boulder problem cruxes. This area is a place to hide from the sun when hot, or to really get after it in early fall. But there are a lot of days throughout the year when this crag is climbable.

Lunchbox Rock is a spire of dacite which juts out of the hillside about half way up the steep section of the Higher Solitude approach. There are three routes, and they are all worth doing at least once. Stopping to do The lunch Box .10- is a pleasant way to break up the approach if you are not used to the elevation.

Higher Solitude is a burly crag to access and climb at. The elevation here is about 8350', give or take, and after the approach, you'll know all about it. It is host to some excellent long sport routes, as well as, the Sailing Wall which is a full service warm up wall with routes that start at 5.8. The Whisper Wall is a secluded refuge with a handful of technical and demanding long routes. The views and crag ambiance are worth the hike. There is certainly a wilderness feel to it, even though you can see bits of the west side of town. And believe it or not you want colder temps (between 45 and 65 degrees) to really enjoy the this place. It doesn't seem like it when you are hiking up to it, but this area faces almost due south. Cold and sunny, or warm and cloudy.

Solitude Canyon Bouldering