Arizona · Rock climbing · Fort McDowell

Lower Canyon

Lower CanyonPhoto: davidpinter, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
3 routes
V0+ – V2-
Bouldering · Sport
Nov–Apr
best months

Is Lower Canyon 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.

Lower Canyon is a climbing area in the Mesa Ranger District of Tonto National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with River Crag and Saguaro Lake both about 0.4 miles away and Lost Whiskey Wall at the same distance. The climbing here is a mix of bouldering and sport routes. The Cave Traverse is a boulder route graded V0+, and Corner Pockets is a boulder route graded V2-. The sport route is listed at 5.10d. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Stewart Mtn Dam weather station show March highs around 78°F and November highs around 78°F, while July and August average in the mid-100s. For more time on the land, Butcher Jones is a hike about a mile away, and The Rolls OHV Area - Butcher Jones Access offers camping at about 1.3 miles. Saguaro Lake Vista is a hike about 2.1 miles off, and Palo Verde, a lake fishing spot, is about 5 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit Lower Canyon

    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

      69° / 39°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      72° / 41°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      78° / 46°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      85° / 50°

      2 wet

    5. May

      93° / 59°

      1 wet

    6. Jun

      103° / 68°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      105° / 76°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      104° / 76°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      100° / 69°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      90° / 56°

      2 wet

    11. Nov

      78° / 45°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      68° / 38°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stewart Mtn Dam, AZ, 1.4 mi away at 1,422 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (3)

Arete Du Soliel Area(1)

Arete du Soleil5.10d

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