Arizona · Rock climbing · Mount Lemmon · Near Oracle

The Outback

The OutbackPhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
14 routes
5.8 – 5.13a
Sport
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Outback, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Santa Catalina Ranger District. It doesn't name Outback, The, 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.

The Outback is a climbing area in Arizona's Coronado National Forest, within the Santa Catalina Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land. The area is packed with sport climbing routes, 14 of them, with grades ranging from 5.8 to 5.13a. Most sit within a short distance of each other, and several are listed as nearby on the same page, so the area works well for a day of climbing on multiple routes. Dog Day Afternoon is a 5.8, and Word Up is a 5.10a. The hardest is Baker's Dozen, a 5.13a that was drilled in 1995 but has never been sent. The Matterhorn Boulder and Secret Gully climbing areas are also about 0.1 mile away, and Skillsaw Crag is the same. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 50°F in winter to 71°F in May, with September near 75°F. The Bug Springs Trail starts about half a mile away, and General Hitchcock and Rose Canyon campgrounds are both within a mile.

Around this trail

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

    South Rim Campgrounds

    Campground

    Campground · 0.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Butler Hall

    Fast food

    On your way back · 2 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 The Outback

    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, 0.4 mi away at 7,027 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (14)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Skillsaw CragPhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Skillsaw Crag

Next door

Skillsaw Crag in Arizona has 5 routes across 5 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Loose goosePhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Loose goose

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6-route climbing area in Arizona with sport and trad options.

Paradox RockPhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Paradox Rock

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Paradox Rock in Arizona has 9 climbing routes across 8 difficulty grades.

SphinxPhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sphinx

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Sphinx in Arizona has 14 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering sport and traditional styles.

Lower CragPhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lower Crag

~1 min drive

Lower Crag in Arizona has 6 sport climbing routes across 5 difficulty grades.

Upper Crag (7 routes)Photo: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Upper Crag (7 routes)

~1 min drive

Upper Crag is a sport climbing crag in Arizona with 7 routes.

Wailing WallPhoto: 666isMONEY ☮ ♥ & ☠, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wailing Wall

~1 min drive

Wailing Wall in Arizona has 8 climbing routes across 7 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Lonesome PinePhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lonesome Pine

~2 min drive

Lonesome Pine is a climbing area in Arizona with 5 routes.

Lizard RockPhoto: All Fronts Quiet, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lizard Rock

~2 min drive

Lizard Rock in Arizona has 20 climbing routes across 19 difficulty grades.

Your Mom's BasementPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Your Mom's Basement

~2 min drive

Your Mom's Basement in Arizona has 16 climbing routes across 11 grades.