Arizona · Rock climbing · Mount Lemmon · Near Oracle

South Fin

South FinPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
12 routes
5.9 – 5.12
Sport · Trad
Mar–Nov
best months

Is South Fin open right now?

Closure in the area

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

South Fin is a climbing area in the Santa Catalina Ranger District of Coronado National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing areas, with North Fin and The Gallery each about 0.1 mile away. The area has 12 routes, a mix of sport and trad climbing, with grades ranging from 5.9- to 5.12. Sport routes include Rooting for the Lions at 5.11+ and Direct Lions Line at 5.12. Trad routes include Old Man at 5.9 and Male Menopause at 5.9-. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the sweet spots. Typical averages from the nearby Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon weather station run from highs around 71°F in May to 75°F in September, with lows in the 50s. Winter highs there sit near 50°F. Gordon Hirabayashi Campground and Rose Canyon campground are both about 2 miles away. Bug Springs Trail is about 1.7 miles off, and the Bug Springs mountain biking area is about 1.1 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    South Rim Campgrounds

    Campground

    Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Butler Hall

    Fast food

    On your way back · 3 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 South Fin

    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, 1.8 mi away at 7,027 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (12)

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