Arizona · Rock climbing · Tucson

Tanque Verde Canyon

Tanque Verde CanyonPhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1 route
5.11a/b
Sport
Nov–Apr
best months

Is Tanque Verde Canyon open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Tanque Verde Canyon is a climbing area in Arizona's Coronado National Forest, within the Santa Catalina Ranger District and managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of hiking trails and other climbing spots, with several destinations within a short walk or drive. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show highs around 74°F in March and 86°F in October, while June and July average about 100°F. The climbing here is a single sport route, Buff N' Stuff, graded 5.11a/b, with Anders Zway, Chris May and Brian Grisham listed as the first ascent. The Tool Shed, another climbing area, is about 0.7 miles away, and Southern Arizona is about 2.5 miles off. Upper Tanque Verde Falls and South Tanque Verde Rim are both within about half a mile.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit Tanque Verde Canyon

    Best months: November–April. 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

      65° / 41°

    2. Feb

      68° / 43°

    3. Mar

      74° / 48°

    4. Apr

      82° / 54°

    5. May

      91° / 62°

    6. Jun

      101° / 72°

    7. Jul

      100° / 74°

    8. Aug

      98° / 73°

    9. Sep

      94° / 69°

    10. Oct

      86° / 59°

    11. Nov

      75° / 48°

    12. Dec

      65° / 41°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Saguaro Np, AZ, 7.1 mi away at 3,080 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (1)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The Tool ShedPhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Tool Shed

~1 min drive

Tool Shed, The in Arizona has 15 sport climbing routes on 11 difficulty grades.

Southern ArizonaPhoto: beglib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Southern Arizona

~4 min drive

Southern Arizona climbing area in Arizona has 26 routes.

Amateur Hour CragPhoto: vaxomatic, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Amateur Hour Crag

~8 min drive

Amateur Hour Crag in Arizona has 15 climbing routes with sport and trad options.

Train StationPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Train Station

~8 min drive

Train Station in Arizona has 15 climbing routes across 11 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Choo Choo RockPhoto: vaxomatic, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Choo Choo Rock

~9 min drive

Choo Choo Rock in Arizona has 7 climbing routes with 5 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad options.

Lockdown RockPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lockdown Rock

~9 min drive

Lockdown Rock in Arizona has 10 sport climbing routes across 8 difficulty grades.

The Expansion Pack.Photo: vaxomatic, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Expansion Pack.

~9 min drive

6-route climbing area in Arizona with sport and trad options on 6 difficulty grades.

The Watering HolePhoto: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Watering Hole

~10 min drive

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

The ZooPhoto: Tanque Verde, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Zoo

~10 min drive

Zoo, The is a sport climbing crag in Arizona with 8 routes.

The AviaryPhoto: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Aviary

~10 min drive

Aviary in Arizona has 6 routes ranging from moderate to hard, offering sport and traditional climbing.