All Locations > Arizona > Northern Arizona > Sedona Area > Village of Oak Creek

Bobcat Spire Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Bobcat Spire

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	Bobcat Spire (Original Route) T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
	Cat Caught Your Tongue T 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
	Prowler T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b

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Elevation:	4,721 ft
GPS:	34.79294, -111.77679 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	3,485 total · 57/month
Shared By:	Derek Field on Apr 4, 2019
Admins:	Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen Page Updates (admin only)

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Description

Bobcat Spire is the very first rock tower that you see when driving north into the Village of Oak Creek on Highway-179. Positioned on the southwest edge of Castle Rock, the tower is roughly cubic and stands about 200-300 feet high on its tallest aspect. Its steep flanks offer an assortment of 5.10 cracks with roofs. The rock quality is inconsistent, but wild climbing and a pointy summit make it a worthy objective for the Sedona spire aficionado.

In case you are looking for a bobcat shape... there isn't one, really. Other than, I suppose, the thought that the cracks on the southeast face do sorta resemble a cat-scratch. We gave it the name Bobcat because of the enormous mound of cat scat that we encountered in a cave at the base of the spire, in addition to frequent bobcat sightings in our neighbourhood which is located immediately below.

Getting There

Approach time: about 30 minutes. Park at the gravel pull-out (a newly officialized trailhead) at GPS coordinates 34.790457, -111.792850. This pullout is on the west side of Verde Valley School Road right where the road leaves the northwest edge of the Village of Oak Creek. Look both ways (blind corner) before crossing the road, then follow the trail as it climbs up a minor ridge trending due east. Keep going on the trail for about 20 minutes, following it up and away to the north side of the bumpy ridge until you see the backside of the spire. It will seem like you are going the wrong way, but trust it. Eventually, there will be a junction: take the trail on the right, which climbs due south to regain a saddle on the main ridge. Dig the view from the saddle, then scramble down the gully, passing a 4th-class downclimb/traverse into switchbacks. Please avoid short-cutting the switchbacks. The switchbacks bring you down to a main east/west-trending trail which skirts the base of the tower. Look for cairns and/or a faint side-trail where you leave the main trail and scramble up to the small cave at the bottom of the southeast face.