Arizona · Rock climbing · Tucson

The Sanctuary

18 routes
V0 – V4
Bouldering
Nov–Apr
best months

Blocked today

Weather is adverse · OpenWeather · checked just now

Is Sanctuary, The open right now?

Alert in the area

The National Park Service lists 2 alerts for Saguaro National Park.

  • Loop Drive closed in Tucson Mountain District due to storms.

    Park alert covering Saguaro National Park · NPS · Saguaro National Park

  • Vehicle Break-Ins

    Park alert covering Saguaro National Park · NPS · Saguaro National Park

As of · Source: NPS · Saguaro National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Sanctuary is a bouldering area in Saguaro National Park in Arizona, managed by the National Park Service. It sits within the park's land, and a fee is charged for access. The area is a cluster of boulders rather than a single climb. The routes here are all boulders, and they range from V0 to V4, with the median grade at V2. Among the named routes are Canteen Boy at V0, BMMFP (Bob Murray Memorial Face Problem) at V2, and Uncertainty Principle at V4. Winter and early spring are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Tucson show January highs around 67°F and lows near 39°F, while summer highs climb to about 102°F. The Saloon, a climbing area, and the Pack Rat Trail and Scenic Trail are all about 0.2 miles away. Beast Boulder is about 1.4 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit The Sanctuary

    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, 7.5 mi away at 2,561 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

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

Silverbell Boulders - Closed to all

~5 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

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

Lower Boulders

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

The "Gimme Some" Dome

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

Gate's Pass

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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

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

Ocb

~23 min drive

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

Finger Rock Canyon

~24 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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