Arizona · Rock climbing · Tucson · Near Oracle

The Cave

9 routes
V0- – V12-13
Bouldering
Nov–Apr
best months

Is Cave, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Santa Catalina Ranger District. It doesn't name Cave, The, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Santa Catalina Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Cave is a bouldering area in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, part of the Santa Catalina Ranger District of Coronado National Forest in Arizona. The Forest Service manages the land, and the cave sits within the wilderness boundaries. The climbing here is all bouldering, and the routes run the gamut from straightforward V0- problems to a V12-13 project called Project (Block Obama SDS). That makes it a compact, close-together objective for climbers who want to work a variety of problems on the same rock in one visit. Among the routes are Molar, a V0-, and Block Obama, a V10, and the harder Project (Block Obama SDS). Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show March highs around 74°F and October highs around 86°F, while June and July average about 100°F. Other bouldering lies right next door. Alcove, Chossy and Roof are each about 0.1 mile away. Gordon Hirabayashi Campground, about 2.3 miles off, offers a place to camp.

Around this trail

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

    Gordon Hirabayashi Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 2.3 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Wildlife Viewing Area

    Viewpoint

    On your way back · 20 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

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

    Best time to visit The Cave

    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

      65° / 41°

    2. Feb

      68° / 43°

    3. Mar

      74° / 48°

    4. Apr

      82° / 54°

    5. May

      91° / 62°

    6. Jun

      101° / 72°

    7. Jul

      100° / 74°

    8. Aug

      98° / 73°

    9. Sep

      94° / 69°

    10. Oct

      86° / 59°

    11. Nov

      75° / 48°

    12. Dec

      65° / 41°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Saguaro Np, AZ, 9.3 mi away at 3,080 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (9)

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The Expansion Pack.Photo: vaxomatic, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Lockdown RockPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Choo Choo RockPhoto: vaxomatic, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Cactus RanchPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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