Arizona · Rock climbing · Huachuca City · Near Whetstone

Bowling Alley Main Wall

18 routes
5.10a – 5.14a
Sport
Oct–May
best months

Bowling Alley Main Wall is a climbing area on Arizona's State Trust Land, managed by the State Department of Land. It sits among a cluster of climbing areas, with The Coop, The Bowling Alley and The Gap all about a tenth of a mile away. That makes it an easy addition to a day spent exploring the surrounding crags. The routes here are all sport climbs, and they range from 5.10a to 5.14a. The median grade is 5.12d, so the area suits climbers with a solid grasp of sport climbing technique. A few named routes stand out. Limestone Lanes is 5.10a, Strikes and Gutters is 5.11b, and The Player Haters Ball is the hardest at 5.14a. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Ft Huachuca Pioneer Airfield show April highs around 77°F and October highs near 79°F. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the wall, so temperatures up top run a little cooler. Summer highs there typically reach the low 90s, while winter lows drop to around 34°F.

Around this trail

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

    Road Canyon Camp Area

    Campground

    Campground · 9.7 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 Bowling Alley Main Wall

    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 700 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 (18)

Limestone LanesFA: Tammy Birkenstock, Luke Bertelsen - July 20185.10aChanging LanesFA: L. Bertelsen, H. D'autremont, J. Wereb, T. Birkenstock - Oct. 20195.11a7-10 SplitFA: L.Bertelsen, K. Brightman, M. Martinez - Feb. 20205.11a/bStrikes and GuttersFA: L.Bertelsen, T. Birkenstock - July 20195.11bSnare the SpareFA: EFR, Jesse Schultz and Audrey Margirier,'195.11cThe Bees KneesFA: Luke Bertelsen, Matt Martinez,5.12-Log Jammin'FA: L.Bertelsen - March 20205.12bUnderwhereFA: Jon Winsley5.12cRinse and RepeatFA: Todd McGregor5.12dGutterballsFA: L. Bertelsen - April 20205.13Stealing ThunderFA: Luke Bertelsen - Oct. 20185.13aThe RookieFA: Todd McGregor5.13aThe LispFA: Todd McGregor5.13bKingpinFA: Matt Martinez, AM, Sep 20205.13b/cLies and CandyFA: L. Bertelsen - May 20195.13cSuperunknownFA: L.Bertelsen - April 20205.13c/dHouse of SkyFA: L.Bertelsen - Jan. 20205.13dThe Player Haters BallFA: Philipp Peters. Nov 20205.14a