Arizona · Rock climbing · Phoenix

Western Bouldering Area

Western Bouldering AreaPhoto: Hari Seldon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
14 routes
V0- – V6+
Bouldering
Nov–Apr
best months

Western Bouldering Area is a bouldering area in Echo Canyon Park, on county land in Arizona. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking spots, with The Headwall and Gargoyle Wall just steps away and Camelback Mountain about 0.2 miles off. The area is a bouldering destination, with 14 routes spread across the park. The grades run from V0- to V6+, with the median at V2. Blockhead is the easiest, at V0-, and Unknown Lip is the hardest, at V6+. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Scottsdale show March highs around 76°F and November highs around 75°F, while June and July average in the low to mid 100s. Echo Canyon Trail and Cholla Trail are both within a mile, and the Salt River offers paddling about 7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit Western Bouldering Area

    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

      67° / 43°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      69° / 46°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      76° / 52°

      3 wet

    4. Apr

      83° / 58°

      1 wet

    5. May

      92° / 67°

      1 wet

    6. Jun

      102° / 76°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      104° / 83°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      103° / 82°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      98° / 75°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      87° / 63°

      2 wet

    11. Nov

      75° / 51°

      2 wet

    12. Dec

      65° / 43°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Scottsdale Muni Ap, AZ, 7.9 mi away at 1,473 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (14)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The HeadwallPhoto: Spikebrennan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Headwall

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12 climbing routes in Arizona spanning 9 difficulty grades, sport and trad.

Gargoyle WallPhoto: Spikebrennan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gargoyle Wall

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Gargoyle Wall in Arizona has 15 climbing routes with 12 difficulty grades.

Camelback MountainPhoto: Spikebrennan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Camelback Mountain

Next door

Camelback Mountain in Arizona has 23 climbing routes across 16 difficulty grades, featuring bouldering pads, sport, top-rope, and trad.

Boulder CanyonPhoto: bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Boulder Canyon

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Boulder Canyon in Arizona has 6 climbing routes across 5 grades.

The Praying MonkPhoto: bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Praying Monk

~1 min drive

5 climbing routes in Arizona ranging from moderate to challenging, sport and trad.

Lookout MountainPhoto: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lookout Mountain

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Lookout Mountain in Arizona has 11 sport climbing routes with 10 difficulty grades.

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Phoenix Area Buildering is a bouldering area in Arizona with 1 route.

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ASU main campus

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ASU main campus in Arizona has 15 climbing routes with bouldering pads and trad.

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Beaver Wall at Papago

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Beaver Wall at Papago is a sport climbing area in Arizona with 5 routes.