Arizona · Rock climbing · Payson

John Rae Dome

John Rae DomePhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
10 routes
5.0 – 5.12-
Trad · Sport · Top Rope
Mar–May, Oct
best months

Is John Rae Dome open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Payson Ranger District. It doesn't name John Rae Dome, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

John Rae Dome is a climbing area in the Payson Ranger District of Arizona's Tonto National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The surrounding cluster of climbing spots makes it a natural base for a day or a longer stay in the Payson district's rock. For a taste of the rock, the Tonto Buttress sits about 0.3 miles away, and The Joint and West Point are each about 0.7 miles off. The Bolder Trail, roughly 0.6 miles away, offers a hike close by. The climbing here runs from trad routes like Fanboy at 5.0 to mixed Spooling Voodoo at 5.12-, with a median grade of 5.9. That range gives climbers a good mix of styles, from sport to trad to mixed, to choose from on a single outing or over several days. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Payson show May highs around 80°F and October highs around 76°F, while July averages reach about 93°F. For overnight stays, Houston Mesa Campground is about 4 miles away, and the East Verde River, roughly 9.5 miles out, offers paddling.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Oct

    Best time to visit John Rae Dome

    Best months: March–May and October. 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

      56° / 26°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      58° / 28°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      65° / 32°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      72° / 36°

      3 wet

    5. May

      80° / 43°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      90° / 51°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      93° / 60°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 59°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      86° / 52°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      76° / 41°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      64° / 31°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      55° / 26°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Payson, AZ, 3.6 mi away at 4,850 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (10)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Tonto ButtressPhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tonto Buttress

Next door

Tonto Buttress in Arizona has 5 climbing routes across 4 grades, offering sport and trad styles.

Stewart PocketPhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Stewart Pocket

~1 min drive

Stewart Pocket in Arizona has 16 climbing routes across 10 difficulty grades, featuring bouldering pads, top-rope, and trad.

Stewart PeakPhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Stewart Peak

~1 min drive

Stewart Peak in Arizona has 20 climbing routes across 13 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Whipper WallPhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Whipper Wall

~2 min drive

Whipper Wall in Arizona has 5 routes ranging from easy to hard, offering sport and trad climbing.

TombstonePhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tombstone

~2 min drive

Tombstone in Arizona has 7 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad options.

West Clear CreekPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

West Clear Creek

~41 min drive

West Clear Creek in Arizona has 13 traditional climbing routes across 9 difficulty grades.

Quickie WallPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Quickie Wall

~42 min drive

Quickie Wall is a climbing area in Arizona with 5 trad routes.

West Clear CreekPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

West Clear Creek

~42 min drive

West Clear Creek in Arizona has 6 bouldering routes across 3 grades.

CLIMB

The Joint

~1 min drive

12-route climbing area in Arizona with sport and trad options.

CLIMB

West Point

~1 min drive

West Point is a climbing crag in Arizona with 11 routes.