Arizona · Rock climbing · Payson

Stewart Pocket

Stewart PocketPhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
16 routes
5.6 – 5.11+
Trad · Bouldering · Top Rope
Mar–May, Oct
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is marginal · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 6 h ago

Is Stewart Pocket open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Payson Ranger District. It doesn't name Stewart Pocket, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Payson Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Stewart Pocket is a climbing area in the Payson Ranger District of Tonto National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing areas, with Stewart Peak and The Altar both within a quarter mile, and West Point about 0.2 miles away. The route count here is 16, so it's a compact spot to pick a single climb or string together a few. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Payson weather station show April highs around 72°F and October highs around 76°F, while July averages a high of 93°F. The climbing is mostly trad, with 13 trad routes, two boulder problems and one top-rope route. The grade range runs from 5.6 to 5.11+. Among the routes are "Adventures of Bad Billy & Dingus Magee" at 5.6, "Teacup Titties" at 5.7 and "The Rangeler" at 5.11+. For more time on the forest, the Bolder Trail starts about 0.6 miles away, and Houston Mesa Campground lies roughly 4.6 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Oct

    Best time to visit Stewart Pocket

    Best months: March–May and October. 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

      56° / 26°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      58° / 28°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      65° / 32°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      72° / 36°

      3 wet

    5. May

      80° / 43°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      90° / 51°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      93° / 60°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 59°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      86° / 52°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      76° / 41°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      64° / 31°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      55° / 26°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Payson, AZ, 4.4 mi away at 4,850 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (16)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Stewart PeakPhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Stewart Peak

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Stewart Peak in Arizona has 20 climbing routes across 13 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

TombstonePhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tombstone

~1 min drive

Tombstone in Arizona has 7 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Whipper WallPhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Whipper Wall

~1 min drive

Whipper Wall in Arizona has 5 routes ranging from easy to hard, offering sport and trad climbing.

John Rae DomePhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

John Rae Dome

~1 min drive

John Rae Dome in Arizona has 10 climbing routes with 7 difficulty grades.

Tonto ButtressPhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tonto Buttress

~2 min drive

Tonto Buttress in Arizona has 5 climbing routes across 4 grades, offering sport and trad styles.

West Clear CreekPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

West Clear Creek

~41 min drive

West Clear Creek in Arizona has 13 traditional climbing routes across 9 difficulty grades.

West Clear CreekPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

West Clear Creek

~42 min drive

West Clear Creek in Arizona has 6 bouldering routes across 3 grades.

Quickie WallPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Quickie Wall

~42 min drive

Quickie Wall is a climbing area in Arizona with 5 trad routes.

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West Point

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West Point is a climbing crag in Arizona with 11 routes.

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The Joint

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12-route climbing area in Arizona with sport and trad options.