Arizona · Rock climbing · Peoria

Ice Castles

10 routes
5.3 – 5.11
Top Rope · Sport · Trad
Nov–Apr
best months

Ice Castles is a climbing area on State Trust Land in Arizona, managed by the State Department of Land. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots and hiking routes, with Pyramid Peak Access about half a mile away and the New River Trail under a mile off. The climbing here ranges from easy to challenging, with 10 routes in total. Six are top rope, three are sport, and one is trad. Grades run from 5.3 to 5.11, with the hardest route, The great rift, at 5.11. Ada's Book is a 5.3 top rope, and Daisy's Roost is a 5.10a/b top rope. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show March highs around 75°F and October highs around 86°F, while June and July average in the low to mid 100s. Nearby climbing includes Joel's House, Beer Bong Boulder and Icecapades, all within about 3 miles. The New River, a paddling spot, is roughly 7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit Ice Castles

    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

      65° / 44°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      68° / 46°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      75° / 51°

      3 wet

    4. Apr

      82° / 57°

      2 wet

    5. May

      91° / 65°

      1 wet

    6. Jun

      101° / 73°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      104° / 81°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      103° / 81°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      98° / 75°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      86° / 63°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      74° / 51°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      64° / 43°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Phoenix Deer Valley Muni Ap, AZ, 9.2 mi away at 1,455 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (10)

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Cactus Flower East

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Cactus Flower West

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AMC BoulderPhoto: SocialMediaAdventure, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

AMC Boulder

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Pinnacle Peak

~34 min drive

Pinnacle Peak in Arizona has 9 climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

Pinnacle PeakPhoto: SocialMediaAdventure, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pinnacle Peak

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Western Bouldering Area

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The HeadwallPhoto: Spikebrennan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Headwall

~38 min drive

12 climbing routes in Arizona spanning 9 difficulty grades, sport and trad.

Gargoyle WallPhoto: Spikebrennan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gargoyle Wall

~38 min drive

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