Arizona · Rock climbing · Picture Rocks

Rattlesnake Boulders

5 routes
V0 – V2
Bouldering
Nov–Apr
best months

Rattlesnake Boulders is a bouldering area in Arizona, about 2.8 miles from the town of Rillito. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Roadside Crag and Rattlesnake Pass each about 0.1 mile away, and South Cluster roughly 1.3 miles off. The boulders here are all rated V0 or V2 on the V scale, with five routes in total. The easiest are Roadside 1 and Roadside 2, both V0, and The Big Rattler, which is also V0 and was probably first climbed by Bob Murray. Rattler Traverse and The Little Rattler are the hardest, at V2, and were both probably first climbed by BM. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Tucson show March highs around 76°F and November highs around 76°F, while June and July average highs near 102°F. For a change from the rocks, the Pack Rat Trail and Scenic Trail are both about 1.8 miles away, and the Safford Peak Trail is about 2 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit Rattlesnake Boulders

    Best months: November–April. 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

      67° / 39°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      70° / 41°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      76° / 46°

      3 wet

    4. Apr

      84° / 51°

      1 wet

    5. May

      93° / 59°

      1 wet

    6. Jun

      102° / 69°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      102° / 74°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      100° / 72°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      97° / 68°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      87° / 57°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      76° / 47°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      66° / 39°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tucson 17 Nw, AZ, 8.9 mi away at 2,561 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (5)

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Silverbell Boulders - Closed to allPhoto: «Gaurav», CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Silverbell Boulders - Closed to all

~2 min drive

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Javelina Cave and the A FramePhoto: «Gaurav», CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Javelina Cave and the A Frame

~2 min drive

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Lower BouldersPhoto: «Gaurav», CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Boulders

~2 min drive

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The "Gimme Some" DomePhoto: «Gaurav», CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The "Gimme Some" Dome

~18 min drive

Gimme Some Dome, Arizona climbing crag with 6 top-rope routes.

Gate's PassPhoto: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gate's Pass

~19 min drive

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Linda Vista WallPhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Linda Vista Wall

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Table MountainPhoto: Miguel Vieira, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Table Mountain

~24 min drive

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OcbPhoto: Miguel Vieira, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ocb

~24 min drive

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Finger Rock CanyonPhoto: Miguel Vieira, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Finger Rock Canyon

~25 min drive

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Mount Lemmon (Santa Catalina Mountains)Photo: Outdoor Craziness, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Lemmon (Santa Catalina Mountains)

~28 min drive

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