Arizona · Rock climbing · Williams · Near Kachina Village

The Obsidian Wall

The Obsidian WallPhoto: Kaibab National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
6 routes
5.7 – 5.11
Trad
May–Oct
best months

Is Obsidian Wall, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Kaibab National Forest. It doesn't name Obsidian Wall, The, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

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

The Obsidian Wall is a climbing area in Arizona's Kaibab National Forest, within the Williams Ranger District. It is managed by the Forest Service, and several other climbing spots and trails sit right beside it, making it easy to pair with other outings in the district. The area holds six trad routes, ranging in grade from 5.7 to 5.11. Among them are Block Walls at 5.7, The Black Rose at 5.8+ and Rump Raisin' at 5.11. Most of the routes were first climbed by Scott Baxter, Gordon Douglass and Ed Webster or Jim Haisley in the 1970s and 1980s. The most comfortable months for a visit are late spring and early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Williams weather station show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F. July and August bring the most wet days, about 10 and 12 a month. Pillow Wall and Paradise Forks are both about 0.1 mile away, and Sycamore Rim is just as close. WHITE HORSE LAKE Campground lies roughly 1.7 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    WHITE HORSE LAKE Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Mustang River Grill

    Restaurant

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Gems & Minerals Building

    Museum

    On your way back · 19 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Kachina Village
  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit The Obsidian Wall

    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

      47° / 21°

      6 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      49° / 23°

      6 wet · 4 snow

    3. Mar

      56° / 27°

      6 wet · 3 snow

    4. Apr

      62° / 31°

      4 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      71° / 39°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 48°

      4 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 54°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 52°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 47°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      67° / 36°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      56° / 28°

      4 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      47° / 21°

      6 wet · 3 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Williams, AZ, 11.8 mi away at 6,909 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (6)

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