Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

Fun Ship

Arizona > Northern Arizona > Sedona Area > W Sedona > Chimney Rock Area

Description

South facing, ship-like feature with a 15 minute approach. If you hike slow! Route grades range from 5.7 to 5.10+. Most of the routes finish above the limestone band (except Fun with Social Distancing). You will want a few small to medium cams to get safely through the band. The lead routes are pretty clean but you'll want to use caution if you stray to the sides and top rope. Be sure to bring your helmet!

Just a reminder that you will tear off holds if you climb this when it's not fully dry. Rule of thumb is to wait 2 full, dry days after a big rainstorm. Please respect this rule to ensure future climbers have the same holds to pull on. 

Getting There

Start at the Andante parking area. Just drive north on Andante until you hit the staging area. Only about 8 parking spaces. If you park on the nearby street, try to park on the opposite side of the residences. Take the Thunder Mt. trail on the west side of the parking lot. Head a few minutes up the trail and take your first right, then a 2nd right (the left takes you up to Chimney Rock and Lizard Tail Spire). After about 10 minutes of easy hiking, you'll see a large drainage that heads up the hill to the north (left). Warning! Most people botch the approach and turn too early. Wait until you see a big drainage. Hike 5 or so minutes up the drainage until you arrive at the east end of the Fun Ship. If you turn too early, you'll end up busting through brush. Wait until the east end of the ship (the "Prow") is 90 degrees on your left.

Routes from Left to Right

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 15
● Fun Approach
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 4
● Fun TR #0
TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 29
● Slabtastically Fun
Sport 2 pitches
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 33
● Flaky Fun
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 9
● Fun TR #1
TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 8
● Fun TR #2
TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 16
● Fun Cave
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 63
● Fun With Social Distancing
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 13
● Fun TR #3
TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 51
● Hole Lotta Fun
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 35
● The Fun Police
Sport
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 15
● Fun Shuffle
Sport
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 22
● Expose Yourself (to fun)
Sport 2 pitches
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 6
● Treat Yo' Self to Fun
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Fun Approach
 15
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
● Fun TR #0
 4
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR
● Slabtastically Fun
 29
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport 2 pitches
● Flaky Fun
 33
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
● Fun TR #1
 9
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a TR
● Fun TR #2
 8
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b TR
● Fun Cave
 16
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Fun With Social Distancing
 63
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
● Fun TR #3
 13
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR
● Hole Lotta Fun
 51
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● The Fun Police
 35
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Fun Shuffle
 15
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport
● Expose Yourself (to fun)
 22
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport 2 pitches
● Treat Yo' Self to Fun
 6
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Lead routes on Fun Ship as of Feb. 2023
[Hide Photo] Lead routes on Fun Ship as of Feb. 2023
Beautiful view
[Hide Photo] Beautiful view
**Do not use photo for navigation**
[Hide Photo] *Do not use photo for navigation**
Slocal visitors from a past life
[Hide Photo] Slocal visitors from a past life
Iain coming up the exposed, but fun, 2nd pitch of Expose Yourself (to fun) - 5.10b.
[Hide Photo] Iain coming up the exposed, but fun, 2nd pitch of Expose Yourself (to fun) - 5.10b.
What happens when you use AI to create a pic of the Fun Ship
[Hide Photo] What happens when you use AI to create a pic of the Fun Ship
Tim working out the moves on a new 5.10+ route being established on the Fun Ship.
[Hide Photo] Tim working out the moves on a new 5.10+ route being established on the Fun Ship.
Climbers from Page having a fun time.
[Hide Photo] Climbers from Page having a fun time.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Iain Macdonald
LA
[Hide Comment] Sometimes the Fun Ship can be a bit overcrowded. If your looking to do even more routes in the area, lizard tail spire is just a five minute walk southwest from the base of the fun ship! It now hosts several quality sport and trad routes. Mar 20, 2021
Candice Liao
white plains, NY
[Hide Comment] going next weekend, anyone know when the area goes into the shade? Sep 2, 2021
Jon.R
Tucson, AZ
[Hide Comment] Really fun area with a casual approach and a ton of the sun. We didn't get shade until close to 5 pm in February. Thanks for all the hard work needed to make this place as friendly and safe as it is.

Important note that many of the routes here require a cam or two to protect the climbing through the limestone band. Some of these are listed as "sport" here. Gear required is listed in the route description. I recommend bring a #0.3-0.5 C4 at minimum to the crag to keep the most options open. Feb 6, 2022
Cole Warren
[Hide Comment] Are there any perma-draws set up on the “fun w/ social distancing” and “TR 1-3” Mar 15, 2022
Kelly O
[Hide Comment] Thank you to the route developers for this fun crag! Started at sunrise, we lucked out with some cloud cover to spare us from the august heat. We were the only ones out there. Aug 19, 2022
Bryan Baker
Surprise, AZ
[Hide Comment] GETTING THERE: the directions above are spot on, BUT the "first right" will occur where there is actually a trail sign. There is a right that looks like a trail but isn't THE actual trail. If you turn early at the first right (no trail sign) you will do a significant amount of bushwhacking over terrain dotted with small cacti. Just know that the actual trail is a very well-built trail with no vegetation on it. Dec 27, 2022
John Knight
Sedona
[Hide Comment] Updated the topo w/the latest routes. In case anyone feels like a spicy off-width, I want to point out that there's a route that needs an FA on the right side of the Fun Ship. It's just right of Fun Shuffle. There are anchors in place if you want to give it a TR. It's a bit trick to rap to them. You need to come down from the upper anchors of Expose Yourself to Fun. I can't remember if you need a 70 or go to a midpoint anchor. Either way, tie knots in the ends of your ropes and don't die on my watch! I know it needs a few bolts as it moves left at the top of the crack (to avoid the monster guano patch). If you do a TR, or want to come help establish this as a lead, let me know. Feb 3, 2023
Dale Hurwitz
[Hide Comment] Warning to those looking to just TR/TRS, I mistakenly thought there was top access here. That is not the case, unless you want to do a gnarly solo slab traverse from the left side of the crag (near Fun Approach). Apr 1, 2023
John Knight
Sedona
[Hide Comment] I was out at the Fun Ship for the first time in a while. I noticed the "lower offs" or "courtesy clips" are actually getting pretty grooved up. Please inspect them carefully and let me know if any need to be replaced. I will be changing them all out for quick links. Cheaper to replace and (I think) people will be less likely to use them to top rope through. I would like to place the blame on people that are using them directly for top roping. I'm sure that does occur, but I think the real problem is that our ropes pick up sand and when you lower (or top rope), it's like a 200' long string of sand paper through the anchor. I burned through a GriGri in less than 2 years and I'm sure it was from the "sandpaper effect". Jan 1, 2025