Arizona · Rock climbing · Mount Lemmon · Near Oracle

Obscure Rock

Obscure RockPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
11 routes
5.10 – 5.13a
Sport · Mixed · Trad
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Obscure Rock open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Santa Catalina Ranger District. It doesn't name Obscure Rock, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Obscure Rock is a climbing area in the Santa Catalina Ranger District of Coronado National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots, with Faded Rock and Hooligan's Hollow each about 0.1 mile away. The area has 11 routes, mostly sport climbs with a few mixed and trad options. Grades run from 5.10a up to 5.13a, with the median around 5.11a/b. Among the named routes are Die Arete Tic at 5.10+ and Mask of the Red Death at 5.13a. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from the nearby Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon weather station, at a similar elevation, show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 68°F, while winter highs sit near 50°F. Nearby, Bug Springs offers mountain biking about a mile away, and Rose Canyon Campground is about 1.9 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    South Rim Campgrounds

    Campground

    Campground · 1.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Butler Hall

    Fast food

    On your way back · 3 mi
  • If it rains

    Wildlife Viewing Area

    Viewpoint

    On your way back · 16 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Oracle
  • Best time to go · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Obscure Rock

    Best months: March–November. 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

      50° / 34°

    2. Feb

      50° / 33°

    3. Mar

      55° / 37°

    4. Apr

      62° / 43°

    5. May

      71° / 51°

    6. Jun

      80° / 60°

    7. Jul

      80° / 63°

    8. Aug

      79° / 62°

    9. Sep

      75° / 59°

    10. Oct

      68° / 49°

    11. Nov

      59° / 40°

    12. Dec

      49° / 33°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon, AZ, 1.6 mi away at 7,027 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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