Arizona · Rock climbing · Cochise · Near Whetstone

East Stronghold

34 routes
5.7 – 5.13b
Trad · Sport · Mixed
Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov
best months

Is East Stronghold open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Coronado National Forest.

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

East Stronghold is a climbing area in the Douglas Ranger District of Coronado National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Creature Boulder, Wasteland Bouldering and the South Face of Out of Towners Dome all about 0.4 miles away. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Sunsites run from highs around 78°F in April to about 80°F in October, while summer highs climb into the mid-90s and winter lows dip near 29°F. Shaw House campground is about 0.6 miles away, and Half Moon Ranch is about a mile off. The Wasteland Approach Trail and the Sky Islands Traverse are both within about a mile.

Around this trail

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

    Shaw House

    Campground

    The next 8 weekends are full on Recreation.gov
  • Eat after

    Wendy's

    Fast food

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    O.K. Corral

    Museum

    Museum · 17 mi from Whetstone

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

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Whetstone
  • Best time to go · Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov

    Best time to visit East Stronghold

    Best months: February–April and October–November. 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

      60° / 29°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      64° / 32°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      70° / 37°

      3 wet

    4. Apr

      78° / 42°

      2 wet

    5. May

      86° / 50°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      95° / 59°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      93° / 65°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 64°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      88° / 57°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      80° / 46°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      69° / 35°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      59° / 29°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pearce - Sunsites, AZ, 7.8 mi away at 4,350 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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 (34)

Behind Stronghold dome "Big Chief"(1)

Oh yeeFA: The Erotics: djtelle, AaronD5.10a

Spire North of Rockfellow Group(1)

South Face (unknown)FA: TB & SA5.10a

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Creature BoulderPhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Creature Boulder

Next door

Creature Boulder is a bouldering crag in Arizona with 5 routes.

Rockfellow DomePhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rockfellow Dome

~2 min drive

Rockfellow Dome in Arizona has 13 climbing routes with mixed and trad styles.

Bastion TowersPhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bastion Towers

~2 min drive

Bastion Towers in Arizona has 7 climbing routes with 6 difficulty grades.

Rockfellow GroupPhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rockfellow Group

~2 min drive

Rockfellow Group in Arizona has 10 traditional climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

End PinnaclePhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

End Pinnacle

~2 min drive

End Pinnacle in Arizona has 13 climbing routes with 11 difficulty grades.

Cochise Dome (What's My Line Dome)Photo: StellarD, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cochise Dome (What's My Line Dome)

~2 min drive

Cochise Dome (What's My Line Dome) in Arizona has 7 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Lost Canyon AreaPhoto: Umnak, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lost Canyon Area

~2 min drive

5-route climbing area in Arizona with sport and trad options.

Batline DomePhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Batline Dome

~2 min drive

12 traditional climbing routes at Batline Dome in Arizona.

Campground Area BouldersPhoto: Umnak, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Campground Area Boulders

~2 min drive

Campground Area Boulders in Arizona has 13 bouldering routes with pads.

The Old Standard Area (aka the Bath Room Boulders)Photo: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Old Standard Area (aka the Bath Room Boulders)

~2 min drive

7 bouldering routes in Arizona spanning 5 grades.