Arizona · Rock climbing · Fort McDowell

River Crag

River CragPhoto: davidpinter, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
5 routes
V0 – V2+
Bouldering
Nov–Apr
best months

Is River Crag open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Tonto National Forest.

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

River Crag is a bouldering area in Arizona's Tonto National Forest, within the Mesa Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from the Stewart Mtn Dam weather station, about a mile away, run from highs near 69°F with lows around 39°F in January to highs near 85°F and lows around 50°F in April. By contrast, July highs average 105°F. The station sits about 105 feet lower than the crag. The area holds five bouldering routes, all rated between V0 and V2+. The Nob's Bobs is V0, and Big Johnson and Crocker Corner are V2+. Manring Face is V1+ and The Yost Crack is V2-. Saguaro Lake and Lost Whiskey Wall both sit about 0.1 mile away, and Lower Canyon is about 0.4 mile off. The Butcher Jones hike starts roughly 0.8 mile from the crag.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit River Crag

    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

      69° / 39°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      72° / 41°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      78° / 46°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      85° / 50°

      2 wet

    5. May

      93° / 59°

      1 wet

    6. Jun

      103° / 68°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      105° / 76°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      104° / 76°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      100° / 69°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      90° / 56°

      2 wet

    11. Nov

      78° / 45°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      68° / 38°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stewart Mtn Dam, AZ, 1 mi away at 1,422 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (5)

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