Arizona · Rock climbing · Happy Jack · Near Blue Ridge

Middle Section

Middle SectionPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
8 routes
5.10 – 5.12a
Trad · Sport
May–Oct
best months

Is Middle Section open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Coconino National Forest. It doesn't name Middle Section, so check the source for the area it covers.

  • West Fork Temporary Area Closure - Extension to 2/27/27

    Agency closure covering Coconino National Forest · Order 03-04-00-26-09 · USFS · Coconino National Forest

  • West Fork Temporary Area Closure - Extension to 10/31/26

    Agency alert covering Coconino National Forest · Order 03-04-00-26-007 · USFS · Coconino National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Coconino National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Middle Section is a climbing area in the West Clear Creek Wilderness, part of the Mogollon Rim Ranger District of Coconino National Forest in Arizona. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land. The area sits among several other named climbing spots, including the John Doe Wall, Log Jam area and West Clear Creek, each about 0.1 mile away. That cluster makes it easy to move from one crag to another in a single visit. The climbing here is trad, with a single sport route, and the grade range runs from about 5.10a to 5.12-. Knot Unknown and It's Super Body, YO! are two of the named routes. The hardest, Into the Maelstrom, is a 5.12- trad climb. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 70°F with lows near 38°F in May to highs around 76°F and lows near 46°F in September. The station sits about 13.5 miles away and is at a similar elevation, so temperatures at the crag may run slightly cooler.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Happy Jack Lodge & RV

    Campground

    Campground · 5.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Wellhouse

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 6 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Blue Ridge
  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Middle Section

    Best months: May–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

      45° / 17°

    2. Feb

      49° / 20°

    3. Mar

      55° / 25°

    4. Apr

      61° / 30°

    5. May

      70° / 38°

    6. Jun

      80° / 47°

    7. Jul

      83° / 55°

    8. Aug

      81° / 53°

    9. Sep

      76° / 46°

    10. Oct

      67° / 34°

    11. Nov

      55° / 24°

    12. Dec

      45° / 17°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Blue Ridge Rs, AZ, 13.5 mi away at 6,880 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (8)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

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

West Clear Creek

Next door

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

Anti-CragPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Anti-Crag

~1 min drive

Anti-Crag in Arizona has 19 climbing routes with 13 difficulty grades.

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

West Clear Creek

~1 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

~2 min drive

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

Wet Beaver CrackPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wet Beaver Crack

~28 min drive

Wet Beaver Crack in Arizona has 11 climbing routes with 7 difficulty grades, offering top-rope and trad options.

The ChossminePhoto: Brady Smith; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Chossmine

~36 min drive

Chossmine in Arizona has 15 sport climbing routes on 9 difficulty grades.

The AsylumPhoto: Brady Smith; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Asylum

~40 min drive

Asylum is a climbing area in Arizona with 1 route.

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

Whipper Wall

~41 min drive

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

High Life WallPhoto: Brady Smith; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

High Life Wall

~42 min drive

High Life Wall in Arizona has 16 sport climbing routes across 9 grades.

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

John Rae Dome

~42 min drive

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