Arizona · Rock climbing · Mount Lemmon · Near Oracle

Swim Fin

Swim FinPhoto: Max Richard2, CC0 (via Flickr)
15 routes
5.6 – 5.12+
Sport · Trad
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Swim Fin open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Swim 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 a cluster of climbing spots, with The Gallery, North Fin and South Fin all about a tenth of a mile away. The area offers a mix of sport and trad routes, with 15 routes on record. The sport routes run from about 5.10a to 5.12+, and the trad routes from 5.6 to 5.8. Among the named routes are Tree Amigos at 5.10a and The Partizan at 5.12+. Real Piece of Schwork is a trad 5.6, and Blazing Apostles is a trad 5.7+. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Lemmon show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 68°F, with lows near 50°F. That station sits about 580 feet lower than the climbing area, so expect temperatures here to run a little cooler. For more time outdoors, Bug Springs Trail is about 1.8 miles away, Gordon Hirabayashi Campground is about 2 miles away, and the Bug Springs mountain biking area is about 1.1 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    South Rim Campgrounds

    Campground

    Campground · 1.8 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 Swim 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 (15)

Fashionably LateFA: Eric Ruljancich,EFR,'105.10Unknown5.10-TiltometerFA: JSt,EFR,'155.10+Tree AmigosFA: Erica Bigio,Eric Ruljancich,EFR,JSt,Jesse Schultz,'105.10aSingh AlongFA: Ravinder Singh,EFR,'175.10b96 Degrees in the ShadeFA: Toprope: Ray Tingle (1984), Bolted by Eric Fazio-Rhicard & Jim Scott (2015)5.12-The PartizanFA: Alex McIntyre, January 20165.12+Real Piece of SchworkFA: Jay Ladin, Scott Ayers, 19835.65.7 Degrees in the ShadeFA: EFR,'175.7Makin MuffinsFA: Eden Masters, Scott Ayers 19915.7Blazing ApostlesFA: P1: Rich Thompson, Doug Davis, '76, P2: Gary Gray, John Baade, '775.7+Grab em in Da BiscuitsFA: Eden Masters, Scott Ayers 19915.8Party PootersFA: Jimmy Porter, Mike Head, Laura Kelly5.8Second SightFA: Bob Kerry, Bill Sheffer ,'895.8Ego DonorFA: Eden Masters, Scott Ayers 19915.9+

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

North FinPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Fin

Next door

North Fin in Arizona has 33 climbing routes with bouldering pads, sport, and trad.

South FinPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

South Fin

Next door

South Fin in Arizona has 12 climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

Mean Mistreater WallPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mean Mistreater Wall

Next door

19 routes at Mean Mistreater Wall in Arizona span 14 difficulty grades and feature mixed, sport, and trad climbing.

Beaver WallPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Beaver Wall

Next door

Beaver Wall in Arizona has 21 climbing routes across 14 grades, offering sport and trad styles.

Windy Point WestPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Windy Point West

Next door

Windy Point West in Arizona has 14 routes with 13 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

Hawk RockPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hawk Rock

Next door

Hawk Rock in Arizona has 7 climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

Obscure RockPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Obscure Rock

Next door

Obscure Rock in Arizona has 11 climbing routes across 10 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

Hooligan's HollowPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hooligan's Hollow

Next door

Hooligan's Hollow in Arizona has 12 climbing routes across 7 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Faded RockPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Faded Rock

Next door

Faded Rock in Arizona has 5 mixed climbing routes spanning 5 difficulty grades.

Agave Spires AreaPhoto: Shepard4711, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Agave Spires Area

Next door

Agave Spires Area in Arizona has 3 climbing routes with sport and trad options.