Arizona · Rock climbing · Phoenix

Bittersweet Boulder

5 routes
V0-1 – V5-6
Bouldering
Nov–Apr
best months

Bittersweet Boulder is a bouldering area in Phoenix South Mountain Park, on city land in Phoenix, Arizona. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with The Arena Area Foo, Warmup Crack and Split Rock Area all about 0.1 mile away. The Siblings Boulder is also close by, and the Guadalupe Perimeter Trail passes within a tenth of a mile. The climbing here is all bouldering, with five routes ranging from V0-1 to V5-6. The most straightforward is "In the Heat of the Night" at V0-1, and the hardest is "Possum King" at V5-6. All the routes were first ascended by Joel Wainwright. Winter and early spring are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in South Phoenix show January highs around 67°F and lows near 42°F, while summer highs climb into the low 100s.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit Bittersweet Boulder

    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° / 42°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      71° / 44°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      78° / 48°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      85° / 54°

      2 wet

    5. May

      93° / 61°

      1 wet

    6. Jun

      101° / 69°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      103° / 77°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      101° / 78°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      97° / 71°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      87° / 59°

      2 wet

    11. Nov

      74° / 48°

      2 wet

    12. Dec

      65° / 41°

      3 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at South Phoenix, AZ, 4.3 mi away at 1,155 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.