San Francisco Peaks Rock Climbing

The famed San Francisco Peaks are a southwestern icon, spiritual home of the Kachinas, a sacred site to over thirteen different southwestern indigenous tribes and named by each. The Peaks are also home of the tallest point in Arizona, Mt. Humphrey's, which is just shy of 13,000'. This beautiful mountain oasis is surrounded by deserts on all sides, and the worlds largest stand of Ponderosa pines seem to cascade away from the Peaks in all southernly directions like a living lava flow. These mountains are cherished by anyone who spends time in their depths and on their summits.

The Peaks now have five small crags; The Peaks Crag, Hobo Jungle, Ghost Town, Secret Garden, and Ricochet.

Peaks Crag is a beauty which is nestled in a canyon on the south flanks. This isolated area is popular among locals as both good sport routes and trad routes can be had. The place turns magical during the fall months.

Hobo Jungle has sport and trad routes on good to great dacite, from 5.8 to 5.13. Several popular moderates makes this a good option for those new to the sport. There’s a pretty solid 5.11 tour, accompanied by a few harder test pieces. 

Ghost Town is a backcountry area which is approached by a five mile bike ride, which certainly keeps the crowds down. Few have made the journey, though it looks interesting.

Secret Garden is a secluded little area with two walls. Pumpy .10s right next to .12s. Though it suffered the effects of the Pipeline Fire in 2022, this resilient area is recovering, and the wall was unscathed. 

Ricochet is a short crag with good steep routes, and easy foot access. The bummer here is that this area burned more severely in the same fire, and its condition does not sound good. It would be advised to inspect any hardware or wait for further reports on the true condition. Access was just restored in the summer of 2023.

 A stratovolcano formed over the course of some 2.8 million years, it had once built itself to an estimated height of 16,000'- 18,000'. Finally the pressure gave, and the volcano exploded and collapsed into itself forming the caldera of The Inner Basin, around 200,000 years ago.

 The Peaks, as locals lovingly call them, hold a great network of trails that will take you not only to the lofty summits, but through unique eco zones, aspen studded canyons and radical ridges. The views, of course, are outstanding. Whether you are looking north towards the Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert, south towards Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona, or admiring the expansive volcanic fields and mounds all around, you will have the sense of being in a holy place. And it is.