Arizona · Rock climbing · Payson

The Joint

12 routes
5.7 – 5.11
Sport · Trad
Mar–May, Oct
best months

Is Joint, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Payson Ranger District. It doesn't name Joint, The, 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.

The Joint is a climbing area in the Payson Ranger District of Arizona's Tonto National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots and trails, with the Bolder Trail and the West Point climbing area both about 0.2 miles away. The area has 12 routes in total, with styles ranging from sport to trad and grades from 5.7 up to 5.11. Puff Puff Pass and Kryptonite are two of the trad routes, and Calf Cramps is a sport route at 5.10. The Grinder, a trad climb at 5.11, is the hardest listed here. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Payson show highs around 72°F in April and 76°F in October. Midsummer highs reach about 90°F, and July and August bring the most wet days. For more climbing, Stewart Pocket and Stewart Peak are close by. Houston Mesa Campground and Houston Mesa Group offer camping about 4 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Oct

    Best time to visit The Joint

    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, 4.1 mi away at 4,850 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (12)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

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

Stewart Pocket

Next door

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

Next door

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

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

John Rae Dome

~1 min drive

John Rae Dome in Arizona has 10 climbing routes with 7 difficulty grades.

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

Tombstone

~1 min drive

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

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

Tonto Buttress

~2 min drive

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

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.

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 6 bouldering routes across 3 grades.

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

Quickie Wall

~41 min drive

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

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

Whipper Wall

Next door

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

CLIMB

West Point

Next door

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