Arizona · Rock climbing · Sedona · Near Kachina Village

Vatican

VaticanPhoto: Andrew Gnias, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
6 routes
5.10+ – 5.12c
Trad · Sport
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Vatican open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Coconino National Forest. It doesn't name Vatican, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Vatican is a climbing area in the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and riding spots, with Church Wall just 0.1 mile away and Upper Religion Wall 0.2 mile off. The Chapel mountain biking area is also within a quarter mile. The climbing here is all trad, with one sport route, and the grades run from 5.10+ up to 5.12c. Bar Mitzvah Boy and Exodus are both 5.10+ trad routes, and Church Lady is a 5.12c trad route. Transubstantiation is the sport option at 5.12a. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Oak Creek Canyon weather station show May highs around 78°F and October highs around 74°F, while July and August average about 90°F. Chavez Crossing campground is 1.1 mile away, and Crescent Moon Ramada is 2.5 miles off. For paddling, Oak Creek is about 8 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Chavez Crossing

    Campground

    Sites open the weekend of Nov 13 on Recreation.gov
  • If it rains

    Stan Rose Images

    Gallery

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Kachina Village
  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Vatican

    Best months: March–May and September–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

      54° / 30°

    2. Feb

      57° / 31°

    3. Mar

      64° / 35°

    4. Apr

      70° / 39°

    5. May

      78° / 46°

    6. Jun

      88° / 54°

    7. Jul

      90° / 61°

    8. Aug

      88° / 60°

    9. Sep

      84° / 54°

    10. Oct

      74° / 44°

    11. Nov

      63° / 36°

    12. Dec

      53° / 30°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Oak Creek Canyon, AZ, 8.8 mi away at 5,118 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (6)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

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

Church Wall

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Church Wall in Arizona has 6 traditional climbing routes across 4 grades.

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

Upper Religion Wall

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Upper Religion Wall is a climbing crag in Arizona with 5 routes.

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

Lower Religion Wall

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East Twin ButtePhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

East Twin Butte

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Church Spires AreaPhoto: Brady Smith; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Blowjob RockPhoto: Brady Smith; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Upper BeachPhoto: Andrew Gnias, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Lower BeachPhoto: jasonwoodhead23, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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The PlanetariumPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Genetic WallPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Genetic Wall

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