Arizona · Rock climbing · Oak Creek Canyon · Near Kachina Village

First Bench Wilson Mountain

First Bench Wilson MountainPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
4 routes
5.8 – 5.11-
Trad
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is First Bench Wilson Mountain open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Red Rock Ranger District. It doesn't name First Bench Wilson Mountain, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

First Bench Wilson Mountain is a climbing area in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness, part of the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest in Arizona. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits within designated wilderness. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Oak Creek Canyon show May highs around 78°F and October highs around 74°F, while July and August average about 90°F. The climbing here is all trad, with four routes ranging from 5.8 to 5.11-. Thumbs Up is the easiest at 5.8, and Farting Rainbows is the hardest at 5.11-. Wilson Cave, a climbing area, is just 0.1 mile away, and Super Crack Tower is about 0.9 mile off. For a different outing, the Wilson Mountain mountain biking trail is about half a mile away, and Manzanita campground is about 2.5 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Manzanita.

    Campground

    Sites open the weekend of Dec 4 on Recreation.gov
  • Eat after

    Chipotle

    Fast food

    Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Kachina Village
  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit First Bench Wilson Mountain

    Best months: March–May and September–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

      54° / 30°

    2. Feb

      57° / 31°

    3. Mar

      64° / 35°

    4. Apr

      70° / 39°

    5. May

      78° / 46°

    6. Jun

      88° / 54°

    7. Jul

      90° / 61°

    8. Aug

      88° / 60°

    9. Sep

      84° / 54°

    10. Oct

      74° / 44°

    11. Nov

      63° / 36°

    12. Dec

      53° / 30°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Oak Creek Canyon, AZ, 3.9 mi away at 5,118 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (4)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Wilson CavePhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wilson Cave

Next door

Wilson Cave in Arizona has 5 sport climbing routes across 4 difficulty grades.

Super Crack TowerPhoto: On^ste82, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Super Crack Tower

~1 min drive

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The BeachPhoto: Klaus Eltrop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Beach

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Muscle BeachPhoto: Klaus Eltrop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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The SurfPhoto: Klaus Eltrop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Bikini WallPhoto: Klaus Eltrop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bikini Wall

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Midgley Bridge AreaPhoto: On^ste82, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Midgley Bridge Area

~2 min drive

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Across the CreekPhoto: Klaus Eltrop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Across the Creek

~2 min drive

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First AreaPhoto: Klaus Eltrop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

First Area

~2 min drive

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Second AreaPhoto: Brady Smith; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Second Area

~3 min drive

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