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Arizona · Rock Climbing
Leupp sits on the eastern edge of the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona, and the rock climbing in this part of the Colorado Plateau is unlike anything you'll find in the crowded sandstone corridors of Utah or the gym-polished crags of Phoenix.
23 spotsUpdated weeklyFree to access
View on mapRock Climbing · 23 spots
Leupp sits on the eastern edge of the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona, and the rock climbing in this part of the Colorado Plateau is unlike anything you'll find in the crowded sandstone corridors of Utah or the gym-polished crags of Phoenix. The 23 listed routes here are concentrated on desert spires, buttes, and pinnacles — formations like Dead Horse Spire, Chinle Spire, Tsaile Peak, and the twin Los Gigantos features — that demand a specific skill set: crack technique, route-finding on loose or featured sandstone, and comfort with committing, multi-pitch terrain. Several routes carry Roman numeral grades (Los Gigantos II and III, Window Rock III) signaling full-day or multi-pitch commitments rather than single-pitch sport outings. The area also includes named faces and aretes — the NE Face of Bentwood Spire, the West Face of Smith Spire, the NE Arete of The Whale — which means you'll be reading terrain rather than clipping bolts. Access runs through Navajo Nation land for most of these formations, so permits and permissions are part of the planning, not an afterthought. If you're coming for quick top-rope laps, this probably isn't your destination. If you're after serious desert tower climbing on sandstone that sees relatively little traffic, the Leupp area delivers.
Most of the climbing in this area — including formations like Chinle Spire, Standing Rock, Many Farms Pinnacle, and Round Rock — sits on Navajo Nation land, which requires permission from the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department or the relevant chapter house before you access the area. Don't assume that showing up and hiking in is fine; trespass on tribal land is taken seriously. Contact the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department in Window Rock well before your trip to clarify what's required for the specific formations you're targeting.
The listing mix here skews toward intermediate and experienced trad climbers. Routes like Los Gigantos II (W. Face), Los Gigantos Butte III (Fiend without a Face), and Window Rock III carry multi-pitch or Grade III designations, meaning they're committing objectives that require solid anchor-building, rappelling, and route-finding skills. Climbers new to desert towers or trad climbing should approach these formations with an experienced partner rather than treating them as a learning ground.
Bentwood Spire (NE Face)
Mid-range route among 22 climbs at Central Reservation Climbs.
Central Reservation Climbs
Diverse Arizona climbing with varied terrain and rock formations.
Rock Point Spire, N. Face
Mid-range route among 22 climbs at Central Reservation Climbs.
Navajolands
~1h 17m drive
Red rock climbing in Arizona's high desert with varied sandstone formations.
Los Gigantos II (W.Face)
Upper-range climb at Central Reservation Climbs; FA Dave Evans, Brian Povolny & Todd Gordon, April 1994.
Los Gigantos Butte III (Fiend without a Face)
Mid-range route at Central Reservation Climbs; FA Todd Gordon, Brian Povolny, March 17, 1984.
Elephant Butte (Elephant Head Route)
Mid-range climb among 22 routes at Central Reservation Climbs.
Pratilus Spire (E. Face)
The hardest route catalogued at Central Reservation Climbs.
King Louie Spire (Monkey Face)
One of 22 routes at Central Reservation Climbs, Arizona.
Dead Horse Spire
Mid-range climb at Central Reservation Climbs; FA Todd Gordon, Henry Thompson, October, 1983.
The Pope (Primal Yawn )
Mid-range climb at Central Reservation Climbs, Arizona.
Tsaile Peak (So. Face)
Mid-range climb at Central Reservation Climbs; FA Brian Povolny, Todd Gordon, Oct. 1982.
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Rock climbing
Leupp, Arizona
Spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) are the most reliable windows for desert climbing in northern Arizona. Summer temperatures in this part of the Colorado Plateau regularly exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and afternoon thunderstorms are common from July through early September — a serious hazard on exposed spires and buttes. Winter can offer climbable days but expect cold mornings, icy approach trails, and shorter daylight windows for multi-pitch routes.
A full trad rack is essential for the majority of routes here — these are crack and face climbs on sandstone spires, not bolted sport routes. Bring a double set of cams, a selection of nuts, and extra slings for anchor building on top of formations where fixed gear may be minimal or weathered. A 60-meter rope is standard; some of the longer routes may benefit from a 70-meter. Desert sandstone can be abrasive on ropes and skin, so hand tape and rope bags are worth packing.
The Central Reservation Climbs listing is the most likely candidate for shorter or more accessible routes in the area, and Dead Horse/Cow Crags suggests a crag-style setting that may offer more variety at lower commitment levels than the standalone spires. That said, detailed route information for this area is not widely published, so reaching out to local climbing communities or checking Mountain Project for current beta before you go is strongly recommended.