Central Arizona Guidebooks

The "Spicy 5.6" McDowell Rock Traverse

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Many of us have watched pro climbers send epic linkups like the CDUL or HURT on Reel Rock. And while these ascents are inspiring, they involve extensive free soloing, all-consuming training, and outside logistical support. Such feats are simply out of reach for your average weekend trad climber. This is where the McDowell Rock Traverse (MRT) comes in. It’s a linkup for regular people (if you can call trad climbers “regular”). It’s an epic day in the McDowell Mountains of Scottsdale, AZ–nine pitches, nearly 1000 feet of rock climbing, and a six-mile hiking loop with stunning views. An efficient two-person roped climbing team can do it in one day as long as they are in good enough shape to run a half marathon. And climbers (should) be back in town for dinner!

Rock Climbers Guide to: Camelback Mtn

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Storm Ranch

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200 routes on a dozen tall (for the Dells) crags on newly acquired ranch land north of Watson. 10-15 minute approaches off the Peavine. Free PDF here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wRJlmjQOAWo5r8hjjfdcrwH7c81GV02r/view?usp=sharing

The Granite Dells Climbing Guide

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Published in 2017, this is a guidebook exclusively for the Granite Dells. There are 198 pages covering over 650 routes with black and white photos and black and white topo overlays. The book is available in Prescott at the local gear stores: The Hike Shack and Manzanita Outfitters. In Flagstaff at Babbits Backcountry Outfitters and in Phoenix at the Arizona Hiking Shack. The book can also be found on Amazon.

Superstitions Select: Climber's Guide To Multi-Pitch Routes Of The Superstition Mountains

Guide to selected multipitch routes in the Superstitions Mountains east of Phoenix.
Published in 1998; 85 pages; black and white with illustrations and photos; now out of print.

Prescott Bouldering

Published in 2001 this 114 page guidebook contains 59 maps and 53 topos.

• This edition is out of print, however, keep your eyes peeled for a New Edition coming out soon!!

McDowell Rock – A Climber’s Guide

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McDowell Rock is the one source for information on rock climbing in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve of Scottsdale, Arizona.

· Designed to make finding the crags and routes easy
· Identification and colored photos of over 20 rock crags
· Accurate trail head and trail access information
· GPS points at key intersections to assist in finding crags
· Contains over 240 routes, many never publicized before
· Color locator photographs of the crags
· Routes displayed on color photos
· Route descriptions and photos presented on the same page
· Top rope climbs highlighted
· Anecdotes and photos from many of the first ascentionists
· Historical commentary about climbing and the Preserve
· Published in 2016 with 134 pages of text and photos

Feel free to visit the book’s website - http://mcdowellsrockclimbing.com/ - for more information and news.

Phoenix Rock II: Rock Climbing Guide To Central Arizona Granite

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The most detailed guide to Phoenix area climbing, Phoenix Rock II is 280 black and white pages. It was published in 1996 and remains in print.

The author is an administrator for Arizona on Mountain Project.

A Climber's Guide To Prescott, AZ

Published in 2000 this 114 page guide of Prescott includes over 300 routes from Thumb Butte, Upper and Lower Sullivan Canyon, Granite Basin, and Skull Valley. It features easy-to-read topo-photos for all the areas, detailed route information, directions, and area traditions.

The Rock Jock's Guide To Queen Creek Canyon

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This out-of-print guide from 1996 covers the climbing routes and bouldering problems at Queen Creek Canyon. The book is 387 black and white pages. It has been supplanted by pocket guides.

Isolation Canyon Climbing Guide

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Isolation Canyon Climbing Guide lists 182 routes in 94 pages with color photos. The routes are traditional, mixed, and sport and range from 1 to 3 pitches. The guide was published in 2012.

Manuel Rangel, the author, is one of the area's primary route developers.

A Climber's Topo Guide to Arizona's Granite Mountain

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This is a fold out topo guide that details Granite Mountain's main climbing cliff and other crags in the the Granite Mountain Wilderness. It's available at The Hike Shack in Prescott or email the author for a copy.

The Homestead

"Welcome to The Homestead!"
A little slice of limestone heaven carved out of the Mescal mountains in central Arizona. Guarded by a 4-wheel drive road, this canyon lays off the beaten path and reserved for those with a thirst for adventure.

Statuesque saguaro cacti line the canyon slopes, which are also home to vibrant desert life. The Homestead’s walls provide climbers with a variety of pristine limestone features: tufas, drapery, blocky roofs, in-cuts, and fossil studded faces. The showcase walls have 115’ sport routes ranging in difficulty from 5.10 to 5.13 that require powerful, improbable, and imaginative moves.
With endless days of desert sunshine and wide-open camping, this is the perfect winter destination. Let this inaugural book lead you to the challenging routes at The Homestead.

McDowell Rock – A Climber’s Guide

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McDowell Rock is the one source for information on rock climbing in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve of Scottsdale, Arizona.

· Designed to make finding the crags and routes easy
· Identification and colored photos of over 20 rock crags
· Accurate trail head and trail access information
· GPS points at key intersections to assist in finding crags
· Contains over 240 routes, many never publicized before
· Color locator photographs of the crags
· Routes displayed on color photos
· Route descriptions and photos presented on the same page
· Top rope climbs highlighted
· Anecdotes and photos from many of the first ascensionists
· Historical commentary about climbing and the Preserve
· Published in 2016 with 134 pages of text and photos

Feel free to visit the book’s website - for more information and news.

Karabin Guides

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Marty Karabin has produced $5 fold out pocket guides for the following areas:

• The Road Area
• Lower Devils Canyon
• Uper Devils Canyon
• Northern Devils Canyon
• The Mine
• Euro Dog Valley
• Beardsley Boulders
• The Overlook
• The Projects
• South Mountain & Pima Canyon
• Groom Creek
• Blue Ridge Reservoir
• Pinnacle Peak
• The McDowell's
• Camelback Mountain
• Lookout Mountain
• Crown King
• The Homestead

Rock Climbing Arizona

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A select guide to 25 of Arizona's best and most popular climbing areas. This black and white, 528 page book was published in 1999.

Weekend Rock Arizona: Trad And Sport Routes From 5.0 to 5.10a

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This guide provides a sampling of Arizona rock climbing. It is geared towards the casual climber and as such does not include more difficult grades or areas in their entirety. The areas covered in are: Cochise Stronghold, The Overlook, Granite Mountain, Pinnacle Peak, Jacks Canyon, Queen Creek, McDowell Mountains, Sedona, Mount Lemmon, and Thumb Butte. The book was published in 2006 and is 285 pages. Besides still being in print it is available for the Kindle.