Arizona · Rock climbing · Near Prescott

Thumb Butte

3 routes
5.7 – 5.10a
Trad · Bouldering
Mar–May, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Thumb Butte open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Prescott National Forest. It doesn't name Thumb Butte, so check the source for the area it covers (5 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Prescott National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Thumb Butte is a climbing area in the Bradshaw Ranger District of Prescott National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with the Mecca Area (Northeast Face) about 0.1 mile away and Outfrumunders about 0.2 mile away, so it works well as a base for exploring the surrounding crags. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Prescott show May highs around 76°F and October highs around 73°F, while July and August average about 90°F with more wet days. The area has three routes, two of which are trad and one is bouldering. Hotdog in a Bun is a 5.7, and Dances on Air is a 5.10a, with a first ascent by Rusty Ballie and Greg Hill in 1991. The Thumb Butte Bypass hike starts about 0.3 mile away, and the Fdr 373-Thumb Butte Loop Designated Disp. campground is about 1.7 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Thumb Butte

    Campground

    Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Casa Sanchez

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rainsDoncram, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Sharlot Hall Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 3 mi

    An open-air museum located in Prescott, Arizona

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Doncram, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Prescott
  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Thumb Butte

    Best months: March–May and September–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

      53° / 24°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      55° / 26°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      61° / 32°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      68° / 37°

      3 wet

    5. May

      76° / 45°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      87° / 54°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      90° / 61°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 60°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 52°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      73° / 40°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      62° / 30°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 24°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Prescott, AZ, 5.2 mi away at 5,205 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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 (3)

Hunger Butress/Thunder Roof Area(1)

Hotdog in a Bun5.7

Upper Outfromunder Boulder(1)

DRL DeluxeV9

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