Arizona · Rock climbing · Tucson · Near Oracle

Wilderness of Rocks

Wilderness of RocksPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
7 routes
V5 – V9
Bouldering · Trad
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Wilderness of Rocks open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Santa Catalina Ranger District. It doesn't name Wilderness of Rocks, 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.

Wilderness of Rocks is a climbing area in Arizona's Pusch Ridge Wilderness, within the Santa Catalina Ranger District of Coronado National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits inside designated wilderness. The climbing here is bouldering, with six boulder problems and one trad route among the seven routes listed. The boulders run from V5 to V9 on the V scale, with the hardest being Heavenly Father at V9. The Flame and the Void and Hellbitch are both V7. The trad route is the only one outside the bouldering range. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 68°F, while winter highs sit near 50°F. Several other climbing areas lie close by, including Wilderness of Rocks Domes and the Zester cluster, each about 0.4 miles away, and Primus Wall at 0.5 miles. For a hike, Marshall Gulch Trail #3 is about 0.6 miles off. Spencer Canyon campground is about 2.5 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Spencer Canyon

    Campground

    Campground · 2.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Iron Door Restaurant

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rains

    Wildlife Viewing Area

    Viewpoint

    On your way back · 13 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Oracle
  • Best time to go · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Wilderness of Rocks

    Best months: March–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

      50° / 34°

    2. Feb

      50° / 33°

    3. Mar

      55° / 37°

    4. Apr

      62° / 43°

    5. May

      71° / 51°

    6. Jun

      80° / 60°

    7. Jul

      80° / 63°

    8. Aug

      79° / 62°

    9. Sep

      75° / 59°

    10. Oct

      68° / 49°

    11. Nov

      59° / 40°

    12. Dec

      49° / 33°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Lemmon Willow Canyon, AZ, 5.6 mi away at 7,027 ft. The station sits about 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 (7)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Wilderness of Rocks DomesPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wilderness of Rocks Domes

Next door

5 routes at Wilderness of Rocks Domes in Arizona, sport and trad climbing.

Zester clusterPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Zester cluster

Next door

Zester cluster in Arizona has 5 bouldering routes across 4 difficulty grades.

Primus WallPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Primus Wall

Next door

Primus Wall is a sport climbing area in Arizona with 6 routes.

Entrance BouldersPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Entrance Boulders

Next door

Entrance Boulders in Arizona has 29 bouldering routes across 11 grades.

Crossbones BoulderPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crossbones Boulder

~2 min drive

Crossbones Boulder in Arizona has 5 bouldering routes spanning 4 difficulty grades.

Quartzite Spring BoulderPhoto: Jacob Kannel jrkannel, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Quartzite Spring Boulder

~2 min drive

Quartzite Spring Boulder in Arizona has 5 bouldering routes on quartzite rock.

The FortressPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Fortress

~2 min drive

Fortress, The in Arizona has 4 climbing routes.

The Murray WallPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Murray Wall

~2 min drive

Murray Wall, The is a climbing area in Arizona with 17 routes.

Not So SteepPhoto: Debbie, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Not So Steep

~3 min drive

Not So Steep is a climbing crag in Arizona with 8 routes.

The SteepPhoto: Debbie, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Steep

~3 min drive

Steep, The is a climbing area in Arizona with 23 routes.