Arizona · Rock climbing · Huachuca City · Near Whetstone

The Gap

2 routes
5.11d – 5.12c
Sport
Oct–May
best months

The Gap is a climbing area on Arizona's State Trust Land, managed by the State Department of Land. It sits among a cluster of named climbing spots, with The Coop, Welcome Wall and The Prow all about 0.1 mile away, so it's easy to add another area to a day on the rock. The Gap's two climbing routes are both sport, and they sit at the 5.11d to 5.12c level. Gentleman's Rules is the easier of the two, rated 5.11d, and Critterbug is the harder, at 5.12c. Both were first ascended in October 2018 by Hubert D'autremont, Luke Bertelsen and Matt Martinez, with Cory Hanson on Gentleman's Rules. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb here. Typical averages from the nearby Ft Huachuca Pioneer Airfield weather station run from highs around 77°F with lows near 45°F in April to highs near 79°F with lows around 50°F in October. That station sits roughly 830 feet lower than the Gap, so temperatures at the climbing area run a little cooler.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Road Canyon Camp Area

    Campground

    Campground · 9.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Bat Cave Café

    Restaurant

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    O.K. Corral

    Museum

    Museum · 21 mi from Whetstone

    Livery and horse corral in Tombstone, Arizona (1879-1888)

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Whetstone
  • Best time to go · Oct–May

    Best time to visit The Gap

    Best months: October–May. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      61° / 34°

    2. Feb

      64° / 36°

    3. Mar

      70° / 40°

    4. Apr

      77° / 45°

    5. May

      84° / 52°

    6. Jun

      93° / 62°

    7. Jul

      91° / 66°

    8. Aug

      89° / 64°

    9. Sep

      86° / 59°

    10. Oct

      79° / 50°

    11. Nov

      68° / 41°

    12. Dec

      60° / 34°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ft Huachuca Pioneer Airfield, AZ, 5.8 mi away at 4,768 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (2)