Arizona · Rock climbing · Summerhaven · Near Oracle

Southeast Face

20 routes
5.8 – 5.11+
Sport · Trad · Mixed
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Southeast Face open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Southeast Face is a climbing area in Arizona's Pusch Ridge Wilderness, within the Santa Catalina Ranger District of Coronado National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits among several other named climbing spots, including Orifice Wall and The Fortress, each about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here is sport-oriented, with 15 sport routes and four trad routes among the 20 listed. Grades run from 5.8 up to 5.11+, with As You Like It at 5.10 and Chapalot at 5.11+ as two of the more notable routes. The mixed route Pitched Battle is also on the list. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 68°F, and that station sits roughly 1,350 feet lower than the area, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Nearby, Canada Del Oro is a hike about half a mile away, and Lemmon Rock Lookout offers mountain biking within a quarter mile. For an overnight base, Spencer Canyon campground is about 3.5 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Spencer Canyon

    Campground

    Campground · 3.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Iron Door Restaurant

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Oracle
  • Best time to go · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Southeast Face

    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, 6.6 mi away at 7,027 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.

Routes (20)

As You Like ItFA: Scott Ayers, Mark Colby (1996)5.10CamelotFA: Scott Ayers, Mark Colby, 19965.10Forced StressFA: JSt,EFR,'115.10Pitched BattleFA: Scott Ayers, Mark Colby (2000)5.10GargoyleFA: Scott Ayers & Mark Colby (2000)5.10-Sneak AttackFA: Scott Ayers, Mike Witt, 19935.10-Quartz JesterFA: Scott Ayers, Mike Witt, 19935.10+AlcazarFA: Scott Ayers, Mark Hathaway, & Peter Noebels (1993)5.11CyberwankerFA: Scott Ayers, Mike Witt 19935.11Finishing SchoolFA: EFR,JSt,GHu,'115.11-No Name 15.11-No Name 25.11-Sir ClipalotFA: Scott Ayers & Mark Colby (1993)5.11-ChapalotFA: Mike Witt & Scott Ayers (1996)5.11+Yo Yo PinnacleFA: Dave Baker, Marti Woerner, Scott Williams, Mark Axen, Kem Johnson, 19755.8Inner PassageFA: Merle Wheeler, Scott Williams, 19715.9Steel CrazyFA: Mark Colby, Scott Ayers, 19965.9The Rupley RouteFA: John Rupley, et. al., 60's?5.9Fort StressFA: Scott Ayers and Mark Colby5.9+Tres FrijolesFA: Eric Fazio-Rhicard & Pat O'Herron5.9+

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The FortressPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Fortress

Next door

Fortress, The in Arizona has 4 climbing routes.

The Murray WallPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Murray Wall

Next door

Murray Wall, The is a climbing area in Arizona with 17 routes.

Crossbones BoulderPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crossbones Boulder

Next door

Crossbones Boulder in Arizona has 5 bouldering routes spanning 4 difficulty grades.

Quartzite Spring BoulderPhoto: Jacob Kannel jrkannel, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Quartzite Spring Boulder

Next door

Quartzite Spring Boulder in Arizona has 5 bouldering routes on quartzite rock.

Wilderness of Rocks DomesPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wilderness of Rocks Domes

~2 min drive

5 routes at Wilderness of Rocks Domes in Arizona, sport and trad climbing.

Wilderness of RocksPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wilderness of Rocks

~2 min drive

Wilderness of Rocks in Arizona has 7 climbing routes from 5.11 to 5.12c.

Primus WallPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Primus Wall

~2 min drive

Primus Wall is a sport climbing area in Arizona with 6 routes.

Zester clusterPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Zester cluster

~2 min drive

Zester cluster in Arizona has 5 bouldering routes across 4 difficulty grades.

Entrance BouldersPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Entrance Boulders

~2 min drive

Entrance Boulders in Arizona has 29 bouldering routes across 11 grades.

Not So SteepPhoto: Debbie, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Not So Steep

~4 min drive

Not So Steep is a climbing crag in Arizona with 8 routes.