Arizona · Rock climbing · Fort McDowell · Near Superior

Great Leaders of the World Wall

10 routes
5.5 – 5.12a/b
Trad
Oct–Apr
best months

Is Great Leaders of the World Wall open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Tonto National Forest.

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

The Great Leaders of the World Wall is a climbing area in the Superstition Wilderness, within the Mesa Ranger District of Tonto National Forest in Arizona. The Forest Service manages the land, and the wall sits inside designated wilderness. The climbing here is all trad, with 10 routes ranging from 5.5 to 5.12a/b. The Evan Mecham Route is the easiest at 5.5, and Kublai Khan is the hardest at 5.12a/b. Several of the routes were first climbed by Todd Swain and Jay Anderson in 1988, including Alexander the Grape and Huri Andropoff at 5.9-. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Roosevelt run from highs around 82°F in April to about 85°F in October, while summer highs climb into the low 100s. Plow Saddle Trail #287 is about 1.3 miles away, and Frog and Reavis Gap Trail #117 are both within about 3 miles. For an overnight base, Davis Wash Shoreline Area is about 6 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Crabtree Wash Dispersed

    Campground

    Campground · 5.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Buckboard City Cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 16 mi
  • If it rains

    Celia Blaylock aka Mattie Earp Grave Site

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Superior
  • Best time to go · Oct–Apr

    Best time to visit Great Leaders of the World Wall

    Best months: October–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

      61° / 40°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      66° / 42°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      74° / 48°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      82° / 54°

      2 wet

    5. May

      91° / 63°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      102° / 72°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      104° / 78°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      102° / 76°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      96° / 71°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      85° / 59°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      71° / 48°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      60° / 40°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Roosevelt 1 S, AZ, 11.1 mi away at 2,605 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (10)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

NorthwestPhoto: Alan English CPA from Scottsdale, Arizona 85254, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Northwest

~17 min drive

Northwest in Arizona has 6 climbing routes with 6 distinct difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

SoutheastPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Southeast

~17 min drive

Southeast in Arizona has 5 trad climbing routes spanning 3 difficulty grades.

Lower East WallPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lower East Wall

~17 min drive

Lower East Wall in Arizona has 5 traditional climbing routes across 4 grades.

Miners NeedlePhoto: Alan English CPA from Scottsdale, Arizona 85254, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Miners Needle

~17 min drive

Miners Needle in Arizona has 6 traditional climbing routes.

Barks Canyon WallPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Barks Canyon Wall

~18 min drive

Barks Canyon Wall in Arizona has 13 climbing routes across 9 difficulty grades.

Myth WallPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Myth Wall

~19 min drive

Myth Wall in Arizona has 9 climbing routes across 4 grades, offering sport and trad options.

The CemeteryPhoto: Alan English CPA from Scottsdale, Arizona 85254, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Cemetery

~19 min drive

Cemetery, The in Arizona has 11 climbing routes on 7 difficulty grades.

Wild Horse WallPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wild Horse Wall

~19 min drive

Wild Horse Wall in Arizona has 17 climbing routes with 9 difficulty grades.

The FortressPhoto: David Taylor from Coeur d Alene, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Fortress

~19 min drive

12 climbing routes in Arizona spanning 8 difficulty grades.

Weavers NeedlePhoto: Deborah Lee Soltesz from Flagstaff, AZ, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Weavers Needle

~19 min drive

Weavers Needle in Arizona has 6 traditional climbing routes across 4 grades.