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Rattlesnake Pass

Arizona > Southern Arizona > Tucson Mountains
Warning Access Issue: Pima County conservation area - archeological artifacts - restricted activities DetailsDrop down

Description

Where Twin Peaks Road crosses the Tucson Mountain range.  Rattlesnake Pass features a jumble of small boulders and a limited number of short volcanic crags (andesite) with very short approaches. The accessible area is a small section of county parkland on the north side of Twin Peaks road that is otherwise boxed in by private property. New fixed anchors are prohibited although bolts of varying quality exist in the area.

Two crags with established routes are:
1) Roadside Crag: An outcropping with a large boulder on top that sits just right and uphill of the cluster of power poles on the north side of the road. This outcropping has short routes on its south side. Each route is just under 35 ft high.
2) The Corridor: The inside faces of a shady 6 ft wide corridor that splits a section of the west facing cliff about 150 yds north of the road. Each route is just under 40 ft high.

I don't know who originally put up the routes with fixed anchors.  Names and FA info all subject to change

Getting There

Take Twin Peaks west from I-10 to Silverbell Road. Make a right hand jog at the light to stay on Twin Peaks Road and park on the north side soft shoulder at the top of the pass (past the cluster of power poles on the right).

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Rattlesnake Pass
[Hide Photo] Rattlesnake Pass
A Hohokam 'trincheras' rock structure in the Rillito Peak mountain section of the Los Morteros Conservation Area
[Hide Photo] A Hohokam 'trincheras' rock structure in the Rillito Peak mountain section of the Los Morteros Conservation Area
Bedrock mortars at the lower Los Morteros Hohokam Village site
[Hide Photo] Bedrock mortars at the lower Los Morteros Hohokam Village site
Trailhead sign at the lower Los Morteros Hohokam Village site
[Hide Photo] Trailhead sign at the lower Los Morteros Hohokam Village site