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

Great Circle Route

5.13a
grade
Sport Bolted
style
May–Jul, Sep
best months

Is Great Circle Route open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Coconino National Forest. It doesn't name Great Circle Route, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

One of the hardest routes catalogued at Ultimates East, where climbs span from 5.8+ to 5.13a. First ascent by Joel Unema.

Around this trail

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

    Pumphouse Wash (FR 237) Dispersed Camping Area

    Campground

    Campground · 1.6 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Mess Hall

    Museum

    Museum · 7.4 mi from Kachina Village

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Kachina Village

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Nearby · Ultimates West · Oak Creek Canyon Overlook · The Overlook
  • Best time to go · May–Jul, Sep

    Best time to visit Great Circle Route

    Best months: May–July and September. 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

      46° / 17°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      47° / 19°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      53° / 23°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      60° / 27°

      4 wet

    5. May

      69° / 34°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 40°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 49°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 50°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 41°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      66° / 31°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      54° / 22°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 16°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mund'S Park, AZ, 8 mi away at 6,470 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Photo of the crag

Ultimates East — the crag this route is on
Ultimates East, Arizona — this photo shows the crag, not this individual route.Photo: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

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

Ultimates West

Next door

Ultimates West in Arizona has 28 climbing routes with 16 difficulty grades.

Oak Creek Canyon OverlookPhoto: InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Oak Creek Canyon Overlook

~1 min drive

Oak Creek Canyon Overlook in Arizona has 5 routes with sport and trad climbing.

The OverlookPhoto: InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Overlook

~2 min drive

Overlook, The is a climbing area in Arizona with 80 routes.

Lower Pumphouse WashPhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Lower Pumphouse Wash

~2 min drive

Lower Pumphouse Wash in Arizona has 21 climbing routes across 13 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Switchbacks OverlookPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Switchbacks Overlook

~2 min drive

6 traditional climbing routes in Arizona at Switchbacks Overlook.

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

Gym Wall

~4 min drive

Gym Wall in Arizona has 5 bouldering routes across 4 difficulty grades.

West Kelly CanyonPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

West Kelly Canyon

~4 min drive

West Kelly Canyon in Arizona has 10 bouldering routes across 8 difficulty grades.

Red Kelly WallPhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Red Kelly Wall

~4 min drive

Red Kelly Wall is a bouldering crag in Arizona with 5 routes.

Blue Marble WallPhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Blue Marble Wall

~4 min drive

Blue Marble Wall is a 5-route bouldering area in Arizona with routes at 5 distinct difficulty grades.

Trailer ParkPhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Trailer Park

~4 min drive

Trailer Park in Arizona has 20 bouldering routes across 11 grades.