Arizona · Rock climbing · Mount Lemmon · Near Oracle

Sphinx

SphinxPhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
14 routes
5.9 – 5.12a/b
Trad · Sport
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Sphinx open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Sphinx is a climbing area in the Santa Catalina Ranger District of Coronado National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots and trails, with Paradox Rock, The Pyramid and Pharaoh all about 0.1 mile away, and Bug Springs Trail just as close. The area has 14 routes, with trad climbing making up eight of them and sport climbing six. Grades run from 5.9 up to 5.12a/b, with the median around 5.11-. Some of the named routes include Diehedral at 5.9, Cling Tut at 5.11b and Neferteenie at 5.12a/b. For timing, the most comfortable months are typically May and September, when typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon run from highs around 71°F and lows near 51°F in May to highs around 75°F and lows near 59°F in September. That station sits about 1,160 feet lower than the area, so temperatures here run cooler. General Hitchcock campground is about half a mile away, and Rose Canyon campground is about 1.5 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    General Hitchcock

    Campground

    Campground · 0.5 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 Sphinx

    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, 0.9 mi away at 7,027 ft. The station sits about 1,200 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 (14)

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