Arizona · Rock climbing · Cochise · Near Whetstone

West Stronghold

22 routes
5.7 – 5.13b/c
Trad · Sport · Bouldering
Oct–Apr
best months

Is West Stronghold open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Coronado National Forest.

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

West Stronghold is a climbing area in the Douglas Ranger District of Coronado National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Hands Canyon about 0.3 miles away and The Tombstone about 0.4 miles away, and Rattlesnake Pinnacles roughly 1.3 miles off. The area has 22 routes, with 15 in trad and 5 in sport, and one boulder problem. Grades run from 5.7 up to 5.13b/c, with the hardest route, Neon Drip, a trad climb first ascended in 2021. Serenity Slab is a sport route at 5.10d, and Thorns, Jugs and Glory is a trad route at 5.9. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Tombstone show April highs around 79°F and October highs around 81°F, while July and August average highs in the low 90s and bring the most wet days of the year. That station sits about 1,500 feet lower than the area, so temperatures here run cooler.

Around this trail

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

    Cochise Stronghold

    Campground

    Campground · 2.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Wendy's

    Fast food

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    O.K. Corral

    Museum

    Museum · 14 mi from Whetstone

    Livery and horse corral in Tombstone, Arizona (1879-1888)

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Whetstone
  • Best time to go · Oct–Apr

    Best time to visit West Stronghold

    Best months: October–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

      62° / 38°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      64° / 40°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      71° / 44°

      3 wet

    4. Apr

      79° / 49°

      1 wet

    5. May

      87° / 57°

      1 wet

    6. Jun

      96° / 66°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      94° / 68°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      92° / 67°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      89° / 64°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      81° / 54°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      70° / 45°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      61° / 38°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tombstone, AZ, 14.6 mi away at 4,659 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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 (22)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The Boulder and Main WallPhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Boulder and Main Wall

~2 min drive

5 trad routes in Arizona at Boulder and Main Wall, ranging across 4 difficulty grades.

Warpath DomePhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Warpath Dome

~3 min drive

Warpath Dome in Arizona has 10 trad routes across 8 difficulty grades.

Cochise Dome (What's My Line Dome)Photo: StellarD, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cochise Dome (What's My Line Dome)

~3 min drive

Cochise Dome (What's My Line Dome) in Arizona has 7 climbing routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad options.

End PinnaclePhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

End Pinnacle

~3 min drive

End Pinnacle in Arizona has 13 climbing routes with 11 difficulty grades.

Rockfellow DomePhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rockfellow Dome

~3 min drive

Rockfellow Dome in Arizona has 13 climbing routes with mixed and trad styles.

Rockfellow GroupPhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rockfellow Group

~3 min drive

Rockfellow Group in Arizona has 10 traditional climbing routes across 7 difficulty grades.

Bastion TowersPhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bastion Towers

~3 min drive

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Lost Canyon AreaPhoto: Umnak, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lost Canyon Area

~3 min drive

5-route climbing area in Arizona with sport and trad options.

Campground Area BouldersPhoto: Umnak, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Campground Area Boulders

~4 min drive

Campground Area Boulders in Arizona has 13 bouldering routes with pads.

The Old Standard Area (aka the Bath Room Boulders)Photo: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Old Standard Area (aka the Bath Room Boulders)

~4 min drive

7 bouldering routes in Arizona spanning 5 grades.