Arizona · Rock climbing · Oak Creek Canyon · Near Kachina Village

Wilson Cave

Wilson CavePhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
5 routes
5.12- – 5.13c
Sport
May–Jul, Sep
best months

Is Wilson Cave open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Coconino National Forest. It doesn't name Wilson Cave, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Wilson Cave is a climbing area in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness, part of the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest in Arizona. The Forest Service manages the land, and the cave sits within designated wilderness. The climbing here is all sport, with five routes on record. Three of them fall in the 5.12- to 5.13c range. Pumper Prince is the easiest at 5.12-, and Planking on your Girlfriend is the hardest at 5.13c. The first ascents of these routes were made by Blake McCord and Joel Unema. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mund's Park show May highs around 69°F and October highs around 66°F, while July and August bring the most wet days. The closest climbing is First Bench Wilson Mountain, about 0.1 mile away, and Super Crack Tower is about 0.8 mile off. For a different outing, the Allens Bend #111 hike is about a mile away, and Manzanita campground is about 2.4 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Manzanita.

    Campground

    Sites open the weekend of Dec 4 on Recreation.gov
  • Eat after

    Chipotle

    Fast food

    Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Kachina Village
  • Best time to go · May–Jul, Sep

    Best time to visit Wilson Cave

    Best months: May–July and September. 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

      46° / 17°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      47° / 19°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      53° / 23°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      60° / 27°

      4 wet

    5. May

      69° / 34°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 40°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 49°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 50°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 41°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      66° / 31°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      54° / 22°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 16°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mund'S Park, AZ, 5.8 mi away at 6,470 ft. The station sits about 500 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (5)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

First Bench Wilson MountainPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

First Bench Wilson Mountain

Next door

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Super Crack TowerPhoto: On^ste82, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Super Crack Tower

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Across the CreekPhoto: Klaus Eltrop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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First AreaPhoto: Klaus Eltrop, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Lower Mt Wilson WallPhoto: Justin Straquadine; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lower Mt Wilson Wall

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