Arizona is Truly a Great Place . . . Naturally!

There's no place with a greater amount of variety than Arizona. Whether it's hiking, climbing, camping, biking, skiing, and the like, we have an abundance of recrational opportunities almost at our doorsteps.

Other states and regions can boast of certain amenities, but Arizona has it all!

Easy trips from the Phoenix area will plant you right in the middle of everywhere. We're known for our weather and we've learned how to adjust.

Climb in the shade in the summer or head up north to the Flagstaff areas like the Pit, Sedona, Paradise Forks, Jack's Canyon or choose from a myriad of other nice spots. Or, alternatively, head southeast to Mt. Lemmon, Cochise, and other areas.



Close-in Phoenix areas are great year round for the locals, but most visitors prefer day trips only during the cooler months from the end of September to early May.

Even during our colder times, climbing in the sun can be a t-shirt and shorts adventure!

The climbing is great, the camping is fine, and in most instances the people are warm and friendly. We hope you enjoy our great state as much as we have.

Within a 2-3 hour drive from Phoenix you'll be able to climb on just about any imaginable type of rock.

Right in the middle of town you'll find climbing. Maybe not the best in the world, but there are a few spots that are worth visiting, such as The Monk at Camelback and some of the bouldering at South Mountain. Urbanized bouldering and climbing can be found at The Beardsley Boulders (near Loop 101 & Cave Creek Road) or at Lookout Mountain (near 16th St and Greenway Road).

There is abundant granite in the suburbs just northeast of Phoenix in the McDowell Mountains, at Little Granite Mountain, and at Pinnacle Peak Park. Here you'll find a mix of traditional gear routes, sport routes, bouldering, and some really nice hiking.

And to the east of town you'll find truly awesome climbing in the Superstition Wilderness areas. Some of the spires uphill from Lost Dutchman State Park such as The Hand are beyond belief. Take a ride out to the Peralta Trailhead and head off down (and veer off from) the not-so-unbeaten path to true wilderness climbing areas such as Zoner Land, Bark's Canyon Wall, The Labyrinth, or even hike over Fremont Pass and climb to the top of the famous Weaver's Needle. All necessitate careful planning and preparation for the true desert experience.

Probably the most visited area (and most threatened by development by various commercial and state interests) is known collectively as the Queen Creek Canyon/Oak Flat areas at such spots as The Pond, Atlantis, Devil's Canyon, The Mine Area, Euro Dog Valley and a host of other great climbing areas.

Located just an hour or so east of the Phoenix Metro area, the Queen Creek/Oak Flat environs provide year-round climbing on over 2,000 bouldering problems, 1,200 roped routes, great camping, mountain biking, hiking, swimming in seasonal creeks, and four-wheeling.

Hopefully many of these great Phoenix areas will be around for generations to enjoy. Local advocacy groups such as The Friends of Queen Creek, The Arizona Mountaineering Club, and The Queen Creek Coalition along with the national climber's Access Fund are working hard to maintain these places into perpetuity. We hope you give these folks your support when you have the chance.


To the Southeast of Phoenix lies the growing Tucson area and looming above it is the Sky Island of Mt. Lemmon. On its various slopes lie literally thousands of climbing opportunities on Granite-like banded Gneiss. You can climb here year round for sure staying low in the winter and heading up high in the summer. Care should be taken to keep an eye open for lightning, rain, hail, and snow . . . at almost any time of the year in spots. It's a great place and from Phoenix about a 3 hour one-way drive.

Don't forget to stop in at the unique Summit Hut for some after climbing browsing and shopping. It's worth the stop for a change from the usual plastic wrapped sameness you'll find at most "outdoor" stores these days. We just hope they don't go mainstream any time soon.

Of course there's always Cochise, The Dry, Gates Pass, and a bunch of other places.

Arizona really does have it all!