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Elevation: 7,327 ft
GPS: 35.25042, -111.70878
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 7,808,178 total · 52,777/month
Shared By: JJ Schlick on Jan 23, 2012
Admins: Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen

Overview Suggest change

Northern Arizona (NAZ) is a vast and varied landscape of rolling Ponderosa forests, high elevation plains, rugged canyons, and sculpted sandstone deserts. Home to the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, the Mogollon Rim, Mt. Humphreys, Monument Valley, the Vermillion Cliffs, Canyon de Chelly, and some of the best whitewater on the Colorado River, Northern Arizona houses true icons of the Southwestern landscape. The San Francisco Peaks are sacred to the Navajo and Hopi tribes and if you spend any time in the folds, flanks, and summits of this mountain you may get a glimpse as to the reasons why.

Modern climbing in Northern Arizona began in the late 1950s with the first ascent of the Mace in Sedona, done by visiting climbers Bob Kamps, TM Herbert, and Dave Rearick. Their buddy Yvon Chouinard missed the FA, opting to attend Sunday services instead. In the years to follow many of the major formations and spire summits throughout Northern Arizona would be pioneered and an age of vast exploration was set in motion.

As Tim Toula writes in his classic guide, A Cheap Way To Fly, "I entered thru the historical gate of the Flagstaff climbing scene in the fall of 1978 when climbing was still much more of an underground sport than it is today. There was a mystique about climbing then that was hard to grasp. Perhaps it was because there were so few climbers then. Names like Baxter, Coats, Davidson, and later, Murray, Gault, and Mattson floated thru the air like phantoms. Their names heard often, but their talents seldom seen.”

Nowadays that list of names is a river mile long as a steady stream of talent pours out of Flagstaff, which is the heart of the Northern Arizona climbing scene. The age of exploration that began in the late '50s has not only continued to this day, it has blossomed into a collective energy that defines the community here. There is always something new to check out and hidden, or not so hidden gems are still being discovered in surprising numbers. All the while the list of classics grows steadily and more diverse.


Northern Arizona has long been held as a bastion of traditional climbing and for good reason. With the sumptuous single pitch basalt crags like Paradise Forks, The Overlook, Volunteer Canyon (The Cwm), and The Waterfall, Northern Arizona is a hard rock trad climber's dream with easily accessed four star routes. The volcanic Dacite crags on the San Francisco Peaks and the Mt. Elden Crags offer up a variety of trad routes which for the most part, tend to be engaging little endeavors. Add to that the gritty back country adventures of the Grand Canyon, the mysterious quartzite Hualapai Wall, and the soft stone spire paradise, the Sedona Area, you might just find yourself mixing dreams with reality in otherworldly landscapes.


If you are looking for sport routes in Northern Arizona, you won't have to look too hard. To the east lay crags like the Winslow Wall and Jacks Canyon south of Winslow. Around Flagstaff you will find great crags like The Pit (aka Le Petit Verdon) and the Mt. Elden areas Solitude Canyon, Devil’s Head, Upper Middle Elden Canyon, and Oaklands, as well as, Peaks Crag, Secret Garden, and the Hobo Jungle on the San Francisco peaks. Way up north are the unique limestone crags of the The Arizona Strip which includes the Virgin River Gorge and Lime Kiln Canyon. Sport climbing is alive and well throughout Northern Arizona. Whether you are looking for steep pockets or off vertical crimps, the list of fine crags and excellent routes is sure to keep you happily swinging through the air. One way or another.

Flagstaff is renown for it's pocketed limestone roofs, with Priest Draw Area being undoubtedly the most famous area, though these roofs can be found tucked away in folds all over Northern Arizona. A committed core of local boulderers are establishing breath taking hard lines around Flagstaff. While the list of hard problems continues to grow, a moderate boulderer is going to find a slew of classic lines at crags like Buffalo Park, Lake Mary Areas, and Turkey Tanks. From the Fontainebleau like slopers of Kelly Canyon, to the sharp dacite crimps of Gloria's, Northern Arizona is a treasure trove of unique problems on at least eight different types of stone.



Getting There Suggest change

Flagstaff sits at the junction of Interstate’s 40 and 17.

Seasonal Weather- Crag Recommendations

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The weather in Northern Arizona can change on a wind, although Flagstaff sees an average of 266 days of sunshine per year. Flagstaff also sees an average of 100" of snow a year in town and much more on the San Francisco Peaks which is the highest point in AZ. Yes, despite most folks impressions of Arizona, we represent the winter months quite well here in Northern Arizona. Good winter climbing can be had throughout Northern Arizona at the Arizona Strip crags way up north, as well as, The Pit and Higher SolitudeCanyon right around Flagstaff, and Jacks Canyon to the east. Winter is also the season for Sedona climbing. If the cold has really set in many will retreat to the Central and Southern Arizona crags.

Springtime is notoriously windy and has been known to drive people mad! Especially in the high deserts. Luckily, this is really the only detracting element of the season aside from occasional creek flooding early in the season. Otherwise it's prime time for crags like Paradise Forks, The Overlook, Mt Elden, The San Francisco Peaks, The Pit, The waterfall, and many more as perfect temps can easily be chased down.

The summer months bring about an average high of 88 degrees during July. Then it's Monsoon Season to the rescue! Flagstaff itself receives an annual 21" of rain a year, and much of it comes during the Monsoons which are powerful storm systems. Sometimes storms build slowly around the San Francisco Peaks. Other times they swoop in during the early afternoon hours, dump their rain, and dissipate after a few hours. Monsoon Season typically lasts through September. It’s the only time of year you might complain about the humidity. Attractive areas this time of year include The Hobo Jungle, The Peaks Crag, West Elden, The Winslow Wall, and more.

And of course, our favorite season Fall, does not disappoint in Northern Arizona. With usually sunny, moderate temperature days, most of our premiere crags are in perfect conditions. Whether you are chasing around the fall colors on the San Francisco Peaks, or marveling at the otherworldly dryness of the desert crags, Fall in Northern Arizona should not be missed.

Local Stone

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Here's a short list of local rock types and corresponding crags or areas which are either right around town or within an hour and half drive from Flagstaff.

Basalt-
The Waterfall- trad
Paradise Forks- trad
The Overlook-trad
Volunteer Canyon- trad
Buffalo Park- bouldering
Turkey Tanks- bouldering

Sandstone-
The Grand Canyon- trad
Winslow Wall- sport/ trad
Sedona- sport/ trad
The Doctor's Office- sport/ trad
Pump House Wash- sport/ trad
Kelly Canyon- bouldering
The Anvil Boulders- bouldering

Limestone-
The Pit- sport
Priest Draw- bouldering
Lake Mary- bouldering
Cherry Canyon- bouldering
Jacks Canyon- sport
The Arizona Strip- sport

Dacite-
Mt Elden- sport/ trad/ bouldering
The Hobo Jungle- sport/ trad
The Peaks Crag- sport/ trad/ bouldering 
Bill Williams Mt- sport/ trad/ bouldering

Drive Times

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​​​​
Approximate drive times from Flagstaff to...

Granite Mountain, AZ- 1.5 hours
Red Rocks, NV- 4 hours
Zion, UT- 4.5 hours
Joshua Tree, CA- 5 hours
Indian Creek, UT- 5.5 hours
Cochise Stronghold, AZ- 5.5 hours
Mt. Lemon, AZ- 6 hours
Hueco Tanks, TX- 10 hours
Yosemite Valley, CA- 10 hours
The Needles, CA- 10 hours
Boulder, CO- 11 hours
Devils Tower, WY- 13 hours
City of Rocks, ID- 13 hours
Smith Rock, OR- 17 hours
Red River Gorge, KY- 24 hours
Devils Lake, WI- 25 hours
New River Gorge, WV- 30 hours
The Gunks, NY- 35 hours

Gyms

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Flagstaff Climbing Center
flagstaffclimbing.com
928-556-9909
205 S. San Francisco St. Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Flagstaff Climbing Center (climbing gym, retail shop and guide service) is located in historic downtown Flagstaff. The center features over 7000 square feet of widely varied climbing terrain to suit all abilities and climbing styles including 40’ tall top rope and lead walls and bouldering area. Flagstaff Climbing is here today because of its commitment to support the climbing community though quality training facilities, expert instruction, informative equipment sales and a friendly atmosphere for all climbers.

Main Street 
flagstaffclimbing.com
928-556-9909
1519 N. Main St. Ste 107, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Main Street Boulders (owned and operated by Flagstaff Climbing Center) is located on Main Street in Flagstaff. The bouldering gym features over 2000 square feet of widely varied state-of-the-art bouldering terrain, built by Vertical Solutions, to suit all abilities and climbing styles and a first-class training area to build strong climbers. Main Street Boulders is here today because of Flagstaff Climbing Centers commitment to support the climbing community though quality training facilities, expert instruction and a friendly staff.

Beta Bouldering Gym

betaboulderinggym.com
928-266-0498
495 s. River Run Rd. Suite 104, Flagstaff AZ 86001
Beta Bouldering Gym, Northern Arizona’s largest bouldering gym, is located just a few blocks from downtown Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University. Beta is a 6,000 square foot bouldering facility built by the local climbing community in 2012 to house the growing demand for a place to train, get strong and socialize. With climbing terrain carefully built for all abilities and two separate workout areas, Beta strives to provide the best indoor bouldering experience in Arizona.

3,914 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

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Classic Climbing Routes at Northern Arizona

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V3+ 6A+
 271
The Bat Cave
Boulder
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 276
Dr. Rubo's Wild Ride
Trad 4 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 228
Sedona's Scenic Cruise
Trad 5 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13
 267
Mars Attacks
Trad 4 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 328
Original Route
Trad 5 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 508
Mr. Slate
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 210
Black and Tan
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 173
Coyote Tower
Trad 6 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 184
The Prow
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 123
The Winsloner
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 291
Khaleesi
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 264
Mesquiter
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 169
The Sadness
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 123
Vesper
Sport 2 pitches
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 108
Mantis
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Bat Cave Northern AZ Bou… > … > Priest Draw > Bat Roof
 271
V3+ 6A+ Boulder
Dr. Rubo's Wild Ride Sedona Area > … > Coffeepot Rock… > Summit Block Rock
 276
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 4 pitches
Sedona's Scenic Cruise Sedona Area > … > Gibraltar Rock… > Gibraltar Rock
 228
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 5 pitches
Mars Attacks Sedona Area > … > Dry Creek Rd Area > Fin
 267
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13 Trad 4 pitches
Original Route Sedona Area > … > Cathedral Rock… > Mace
 328
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad 5 pitches
Mr. Slate Flagstaff Area > Pit (aka Le Pet… > (F) Swiss Tower
 508
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Black and Tan Oak Creek Canyon > Waterfall > 2. The Main Amphithea…
 210
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Coyote Tower Sedona Area > … > Bell Rock / Cou… > Courthouse Butte
 173
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad 6 pitches
The Prow Sycamore Canyon > Paradise Forks > Prow
 184
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
The Winsloner Winslow- Hwy’s… > … > Winslow Wall > W Side
 123
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Khaleesi Arizona Strip > Lime Kiln Canyon > Grail
 291
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Mesquiter Arizona Strip > Lime Kiln Canyon > Grail
 264
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
The Sadness Arizona Strip > Lime Kiln Canyon > Grail
 169
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Vesper Arizona Strip > Lime Kiln Canyon > Grail
 123
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport 2 pitches
Mantis Arizona Strip > Lime Kiln Canyon > Grail
 108
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
More Classic Climbs in Northern Arizona »

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