Arizona · Rock climbing · Mount Lemmon · Near Oracle

The Watering Hole

The Watering HolePhoto: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
7 routes
5.7 – 5.11
Sport · Trad
Oct–May
best months

Is Watering Hole, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Santa Catalina Ranger District. It doesn't name Watering Hole, The, 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.

The Watering Hole 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 and trails, with The Zoo and The Aviary both about 0.1 mile away and Molino Basin Campground about 0.2 mile off. The area has seven routes, six of them sport and one trad, with grades ranging from 5.7 to 5.11. Coyote Crack is the trad route at 5.7, and the sport routes include Deer Saloon at 5.8 and Awesome Possum at 5.11. The hardest of the sport routes, Javelina Cantina, is 5.10d. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 71°F and October highs around 77°F, while June and July average in the low 90s. Nearby options include the Bellota Trail #15 and Molino Basin Trail #11, both about 0.2 mile away, and Molino Basin Campground. The Molino Basin Boulders are also about 0.2 mile from the area.

Around this trail

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

    Molino Basin

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Butler Hall

    Fast food

    On your way back · 5 mi
  • If it rains

    Wildlife Viewing Area

    Viewpoint

    On your way back · 18 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Oracle
  • Best time to go · Oct–May

    Best time to visit The Watering Hole

    Best months: October–May. 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° / 35°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      58° / 37°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      64° / 42°

      6 wet

    4. Apr

      71° / 46°

      3 wet

    5. May

      82° / 56°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      92° / 66°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      91° / 69°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      90° / 67°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      86° / 63°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      77° / 52°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      64° / 42°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      55° / 36°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Oracle 2 Se, AZ, 18.3 mi away at 4,510 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (7)

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