Loading…
Arizona · Rock Climbing
Teec Nos Pos sits in the far northeastern corner of Arizona, deep in Navajo Nation territory, where the landscape shifts into a collection of sandstone towers and fins that most climbers outside the Southwest have never heard of.
6 spotsUpdated weeklyFree to access
View on mapRock Climbing · 6 spots
Teec Nos Pos sits in the far northeastern corner of Arizona, deep in Navajo Nation territory, where the landscape shifts into a collection of sandstone towers and fins that most climbers outside the Southwest have never heard of. The climbing here centers on a cluster of desert towers — OFY Tower, Out Tower, Q-Tutt Tower, and the broader Cove Area — offering routes on vertical and featured sandstone faces. The West Face of OFY Tower and the West Face of Out Tower are the kinds of moderate desert tower objectives that reward climbers who've already got some trad experience under their belts. Out Tower's Surfing the Biscuit and Q-Tutt Tower's OFY Route round out a small but legitimate tick list for anyone making the drive out here. Tombstone's Regular Route adds another classic desert tower line to the mix. This is not a gym-to-crag destination — the remoteness, the sandstone quality, and the Navajo Nation land status all require preparation before you show up. But for climbers who do their homework, Teec Nos Pos delivers quiet, committing desert tower climbing without the crowds you'd find at more publicized Colorado Plateau destinations.
The towers around Teec Nos Pos sit within the Navajo Nation, which requires visitors to obtain a recreation permit before accessing land for activities like climbing. Contact the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department ahead of your trip to confirm current permit requirements and fees — regulations can change and vary by specific area.
The routes listed here — including the West Face lines on OFY Tower and Out Tower, Surfing the Biscuit, and the OFY Route on Q-Tutt Tower — are desert tower trad climbs. You should be comfortable leading trad routes, building anchors on sandstone, and managing rope work on exposed terrain before attempting them. These are not beginner objectives.
Out Tower, West Face
Mid-grade climb at Cove Area; FA Cameron M. Burns, Jon Butler, Luke Laeser, November 1994.
Cove Area
Arizona climbing area with varied routes and scenic rock formations.
Out Tower, Surfing the Biscuit
The hardest route catalogued at Cove Area.
Ship Rock
~39 min drive
Iconic New Mexico monolith with diverse climbing and spectacular desert views.
OFY Tower, West Face
Mid-range climb at Cove Area; FA Jason Haas, Andrew Burr, Lukas Hill 03/30/2012.
New Mexico Navajolands
~42 min drive
Red rock climbing in New Mexico's distinctive Navajolands region.
Q-Tutt Tower, OFY Route
One of five routes at Cove Area in Arizona.
Navajolands
~49 min drive
Red rock climbing in Arizona's high desert with varied sandstone formations.
Tombstone, Regular Route
Mid-range climb at Cove Area; FA Cameron M. Burns, Luke Laeser, Aug. 29, 1993.
H. Ten Mile Crag
~1h 5m drive
Alpine Colorado crag with mixed sport and trad climbing for varied abilities.
The Big Flute
~38 min drive
A worthwhile stop near New Mexico.
G. Pumphouse Right
~1h 6m drive
Colorado climbing area with varied routes for developing climbers.
Spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) are the most reliable windows for desert tower climbing in this part of Arizona. Summers bring intense heat and afternoon thunderstorms that make exposed sandstone faces dangerous. Winter is possible on clear days but cold temperatures and ice in cracks can complicate protection placement.
A standard desert trad rack is the baseline — bring a full set of cams with doubles in the mid-sizes, nuts, and long slings for reducing rope drag on wandering pitches. Sandstone in this region can be softer than granite, so place gear thoughtfully and avoid torquing pieces. Carry more water than you think you need; there are no reliable water sources at the climbing areas.
Cell coverage in the Teec Nos Pos area is limited and unreliable. The nearest significant services are in Farmington, New Mexico, roughly an hour away. File a trip plan with someone before you go, and consider carrying a satellite communicator given the remote nature of these tower approaches.
