Arizona · Rock climbing · Phoenix

Wiley Thompson Boulder

11 routes
V0 – V6+
Bouldering
Nov–Apr
best months

Wiley Thompson Boulder is a bouldering area in Arizona, set within the Union Hills on city land. It sits among a cluster of other bouldering spots, with Beardsley Bouldering, Problems on Unnamed Boulders and Sunshine Boulder all about 0.1 mile away. The climbing here is all bouldering, with 11 routes spread across the V0- to V6+ range. Wiley Right is the easiest at V0-, and Das Boot is the hardest at V6+. The Perforator right and Das Boot (Hang Start) sit in the middle at V2 and V3. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show March highs around 75°F and October highs around 86°F, while June and July average in the low to mid 100s. For a change from the rocks, the Great Horned Owl Trail is about 3.8 miles away, and the Cactus Wren Trail and Union Peak Trail are each about 4 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit Wiley Thompson Boulder

    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

      65° / 44°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      68° / 46°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      75° / 51°

      3 wet

    4. Apr

      82° / 57°

      2 wet

    5. May

      91° / 65°

      1 wet

    6. Jun

      101° / 73°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      104° / 81°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      103° / 81°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      98° / 75°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      86° / 63°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      74° / 51°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      64° / 43°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Phoenix Deer Valley Muni Ap, AZ, 2.3 mi away at 1,455 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

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

Lookout Mountain

~7 min drive

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

Cactus Flower WestPhoto: SocialMediaAdventure, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cactus Flower West

~18 min drive

Cactus Flower West in Arizona has 6 climbing routes across 5 difficulty grades.

Cactus Flower WestPhoto: SocialMediaAdventure, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cactus Flower West

~18 min drive

Desert climbing area in Arizona with varied routes and southwestern rock.

Pinnacle PeakPhoto: SocialMediaAdventure, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pinnacle Peak

~18 min drive

Pinnacle Peak in Arizona has 44 climbing routes across 21 grades, offering mixed, sport, and trad styles.

AMC BoulderPhoto: SocialMediaAdventure, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

AMC Boulder

~18 min drive

AMC Boulder in Arizona has 8 climbing routes across 5 grades.

Cactus Flower EastPhoto: SocialMediaAdventure, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cactus Flower East

~18 min drive

Cactus Flower East in Arizona has 28 climbing routes across 13 grades.

Pinnacle PeakPhoto: SocialMediaAdventure, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pinnacle Peak

~19 min drive

Pinnacle Peak in Arizona has 9 climbing routes across 6 difficulty grades.

Western Bouldering AreaPhoto: Hari Seldon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Western Bouldering Area

~20 min drive

Western Bouldering Area in Arizona has 14 bouldering routes across 10 grades.

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

The Headwall

~20 min drive

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

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

Camelback Mountain

~21 min drive

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