Arizona · Rock climbing · Gold Canyon · Near Superior

Barks Canyon Wall

Barks Canyon WallPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
13 routes
5.6 – 5.11a/b
Trad · Sport
Nov–Apr
best months

Is Barks Canyon Wall open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Tonto National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Tonto National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Barks Canyon Wall is a climbing area in the Superstition Wilderness, part of the Mesa Ranger District of Tonto National Forest in Arizona. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits within designated wilderness. The climbing here is a mix of trad and sport routes, with 12 trad routes and one sport route among the 13 listed. Grades run from 5.6 to 5.11, with the median at 5.9. The Bandito Route is the hardest at 5.11, and the Root Beer route is the easiest at 5.6. The Lay Me Down route is the sport option. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Apache Junction show March highs around 77°F and November highs around 76°F, while July averages about 105°F. That station sits roughly 1,260 feet lower than the wall, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. The Cemetery and Myth Wall climbing areas are each about 0.1 mile away, and Wild Horse Wall is about 0.2 mile off. For a hike, Cave Trail #233 is about half a mile away.

Around this trail

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

    Campground East

    Campground

    Campground · 3.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    McDonald's

    Fast food

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Trails End

    Attraction

    On your way back · 14 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Superior
  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit Barks Canyon Wall

    Best months: November–April. 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

      67° / 43°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      70° / 44°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      77° / 48°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      85° / 53°

      2 wet

    5. May

      93° / 60°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      103° / 69°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      105° / 77°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      104° / 76°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      99° / 71°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      88° / 60°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      76° / 50°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      66° / 42°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Apache Junction 5 Ne, AZ, 8.4 mi away at 2,070 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (13)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The CemeteryPhoto: Alan English CPA from Scottsdale, Arizona 85254, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Cemetery

Next door

Cemetery, The in Arizona has 11 climbing routes on 7 difficulty grades.

Myth WallPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Myth Wall

Next door

Myth Wall in Arizona has 9 climbing routes across 4 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Wild Horse WallPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wild Horse Wall

Next door

Wild Horse Wall in Arizona has 17 climbing routes with 9 difficulty grades.

The FortressPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Fortress

Next door

12 climbing routes in Arizona spanning 8 difficulty grades.

Nosepicker PinnaclesPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Nosepicker Pinnacles

~1 min drive

6 traditional climbing routes at Nosepicker Pinnacles, Arizona.

Miners NeedlePhoto: Alan English CPA from Scottsdale, Arizona 85254, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Miners Needle

~3 min drive

Miners Needle in Arizona has 6 traditional climbing routes.

SoutheastPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Southeast

~3 min drive

Southeast in Arizona has 5 trad climbing routes spanning 3 difficulty grades.

Lower East WallPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lower East Wall

~3 min drive

Lower East Wall in Arizona has 5 traditional climbing routes across 4 grades.

NorthwestPhoto: Alan English CPA from Scottsdale, Arizona 85254, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Northwest

~3 min drive

Northwest in Arizona has 6 climbing routes with 6 distinct difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Carney Springs WallPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Carney Springs Wall

~3 min drive

Carney Springs Wall in Arizona has 5 routes ranging from moderate to hard, offering sport and trad climbing.