Rivendell Rock Climbing
Elevation: | 3,725 ft |
GPS: |
32.3211, -110.739 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
Page Views: | 13,942 total · 64/month |
Shared By: | Scott Tucker on May 8, 2006 · Updates |
Admins: | adrian montaƱo, Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen |
Description
Good winter climbing area with moderate sport routes. The hour-long hike keeps out the crowds, but it is well worth the approach. The climbs are fun and the area is very pretty, right along the streambed. No road noise here. The wall faces 289 degrees WNW and gets winter sun around noon. Most of the climbs start on slightly water-polished stone then work up to very nice edges. The wall is mostly vertical, but some climbs are fairly sporty and have fun moves.
Getting There
According to the Garmin, the distance (one-way) is 1.5 miles and there is 1000' of cumulative elevation gain (700' of relief). There are a wealth of opportunities for deadending and backtracking, so you allow 1.25 - 1.5 hours for the approach and about 1 hour for the deproach.
Park immediately before Hairpin Curve (on your R when heading uphighway), 0.6 miles from MP 0 (intersection of Mt Lemmon Short Road and Catalina Higway). Cross the highway and follow the trails/streambed up past the Lefthand and Righthand walls, favoring the "Righthand" (ha!) side of the canyon. There is a network of braided trails that, should you be sharp-eyed and lucky, will ease the pain. These "trails" eventually drop down into the streambed as the canyon makes a sharp bend to the R. Continue, following the streambed up Soldier's Canyon passing Pinhead Wall on your right. You'll run head-on into a waterfall (seasonal) that is about 15' tall ,shortly after taking the righthand fork into Soldier's Creek proper, which can be climbed (3rd class) on the NW side (left side going upstream). Continue up-canyon staying in the streambed, AMAP, in order to avoid the bloodthirsty catclaw jungle and abundant buffelgrass. You'll know you are almost there when you see a red-orange wall on the right side of the streambed. Rivendell is around the point directly behind this wall. The wash becomes filled with hug blocks next to the red-orange wall and it is easiest to hug the west side (left looking upstream) until you reach the elevation of the base of Rivendell. Duck through an opening under a huge boulder and scramble up a shark fin of rock and there you are! The approach is half the fun! The wall is on the east side, facing 289 degrees WNW.
www.climbaz.com has excellent directions with pictures and route descriptions.
Classic Climbing Routes at Rivendell
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