Oz Buttress
- 5 routes
- 5.8 – 5.11b/c
- Trad · Sport
- Feb–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is Oz Buttress open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Payson Ranger District. It doesn't name Oz Buttress, so check the source for the area it covers.
State Route 260 Lion Springs Construction Site Public Health and Safety Closure Order
Agency closure covering Payson Ranger District · Order 03-12-04-26-25 · USFS · Payson Ranger District
Canyon Lake Drawdown Public Safety Closure
Agency alert covering Tonto National Forest · Order 03-12-00-26-22 · USFS · Tonto National Forest
No Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Tonto National Forest · USFS · Tonto National Forest
Roosevelt Lake Seasonal Wildlife Closure
Agency alert covering Tonto National Forest · Order 12-16-5 · USFS · Tonto National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Payson Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Oz Buttress is a climbing area in the Payson Ranger District of Tonto National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among two of the district's own climbing areas, Main Wall - North and Main Wall - South, both about 0.1 mile away. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 70°F with lows near 41°F in April to highs near 74°F with lows around 46°F in October. That station sits about 580 feet lower than the buttress, so temperatures up high run cooler. The area has five routes, with three of them trad and two sport. The grades range from 5.8 to 5.11b/c. Oz-some is the easiest at 5.8, and The Crystal Ship and Lazy Lion are the hardest at 5.11b and 5.11b/c. Nearby, the Arizona Trail and Oak Spring Trail 16 are each about 0.7 mile away, and Sharp Creek Group campground is about a mile off.
Best time to go · Feb–May, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit Oz Buttress
Best months: February–May and September–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.
Jan
54° / 30°
Feb
57° / 32°
Mar
64° / 36°
Apr
70° / 41°
May
79° / 48°
Jun
88° / 58°
Jul
91° / 65°
Aug
89° / 62°
Sep
84° / 57°
Oct
74° / 46°
Nov
63° / 36°
Dec
53° / 30°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Natural Brg, AZ, 2.7 mi away at 4,608 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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