Arizona · Rock climbing · Fort McDowell

Greevers' Needle

Greevers' NeedlePhoto: Z Glyph, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
17 routes
5.0 – 5.11a
Sport · Trad · Bouldering
Nov–Apr
best months

Is Greevers' Needle open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Mesa Ranger District.

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

Greevers' Needle is a climbing area in the Mesa Ranger District of Tonto National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits in the state's desert country, where the cooler months bring the most comfortable weather and the summer climbs run hot. The area holds 17 routes, with 10 sport routes and 6 trad routes, grades ranging from 5.0 to 5.11a on the YDS scale. The V4 boulder route rounds out the mix. Among the named routes are the 5.0 trad C.P.O.P., the 5.7 sport Orachasm, and the 5.11a Howl at the Moon, which was first climbed by Aaron Collins and Pierce Libbey in 2020. For a change of pace, the Bulldog Saddle Trail and Gold Link Trail are both within about 2 miles, and the Suction Gully climbing area is roughly 5 miles away. Larry Forbis Campground is about 6 miles off for overnight stays.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit Greevers' Needle

    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

      67° / 43°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      70° / 44°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      77° / 48°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      85° / 53°

      2 wet

    5. May

      93° / 60°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      103° / 69°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      105° / 77°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      104° / 76°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      99° / 71°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      88° / 60°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      76° / 50°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      66° / 42°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Apache Junction 5 Ne, AZ, 3.7 mi away at 2,070 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (17)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Suction GullyPhoto: The3dStudioDotCom, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Suction Gully

~8 min drive

Suction Gully in Arizona has 7 traditional climbing routes across 5 difficulty grades.

Forrest SpiresPhoto: The3dStudioDotCom, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Forrest Spires

~8 min drive

Forrest Spires is a climbing crag in Arizona with 5 routes.

Los Bandito TowersPhoto: Sean Foster, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Los Bandito Towers

~9 min drive

Los Bandito Towers in Arizona has 6 traditional climbing routes on rock faces.

Siphon DrawPhoto: The3dStudioDotCom, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Siphon Draw

~9 min drive

Siphon Draw in Arizona has 7 trad climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

Northwest PinnaclesPhoto: Sean Foster, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Northwest Pinnacles

~9 min drive

7 climbing routes in Arizona, difficulty grades 3, trad style

The MotherlodePhoto: neepster, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Motherlode

~9 min drive

Motherlode, The in Arizona has 11 trad climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

The IcebergPhoto: Sean Foster, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Iceberg

~9 min drive

Iceberg, The is a climbing area in Arizona with 6 routes.

Lower CanyonPhoto: davidpinter, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lower Canyon

~11 min drive

Lower Canyon in Arizona has 3 climbing routes with bouldering pads and sport.

Lost Whiskey WallPhoto: davidpinter, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lost Whiskey Wall

~11 min drive

Lost Whiskey Wall is a bouldering area in Arizona with 9 routes.

River CragPhoto: davidpinter, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

River Crag

~11 min drive

River Crag in Arizona has 5 bouldering routes across 4 difficulty grades.