Weekend Tucson Trip Recommendations

A friend of mine is going to be in Tucson for the next six weeks or so and I was going to take advantage of a free flight out there to make a weekend trip. We really wanted to do some desert camping and cragging. Was looking for a place to climb 5.6-10s single pitches with camping nearby. I have a full rack and I'm not picky if its sport climbing or trad(no bouldering). Do you have any recommendations as to where to go?

The advice to go to Cochise is probably not good. Not sure where Mr. Wilder lives but I'm in AZ and it is dang hot and miserable, even in the shade.

The next six weeks are still scorching in southern Arizona's lowlands to go for higher elevations. Mt. Lemmon has plenty of stuff for you to do and camping is available high on the mountain.

There are several places with established campsites and bathrooms along the highway through the Mt. Lemmon area. It will be hot as hell though rightnow. If you went and climbed at the crags near the top of Mt. Lemmon it might be tolerable if you go early.

Mt Lemmon. Check out the upper highway, chase the shade and you'll be fine. Have fun!

I don't live there anymore, but I can give you a bit more detail. You really should go high on Mt Lemmon, but it's not really desert camping. You'd be surrounded by tall conifer trees. Good crags for you might be
Munchkinland
Outcroppings
Ridgeline
. These are mostly sport crags, but Munchkinland has a number of trad lines. I know you asked for single pitch, but the Summit Crags have some great 3-ish pitch moderates. There are several camping options around, including some great "dispersed camping" (free, no facilities) spots off the forest service roads, assuming you get there before they get snatched up on Friday night. See here for some camping ideas.

If you really want desert, most places will be pretty hot. You could consider some Winslow crags, but that would require a long drive and a lot more effort.

looks like i wont be desert camping after all! Thanks for the suggestions Mt. Lemmon looks promising.

If you're new to the area, I'd say don't miss the Std route on Rap Rock. Only 5.7ish, often 3rd classed. It's a blast.

Do the 5.9+ Chiboni as a more challenging start.
and of course:
"The combination of Chiboni, Quick Death and Voodoo Child is a Tucson classic."

Lot's of other great routes on Rap rock at all levels.

If you want the real deal, head up and down to the Reef.
And the classic sport climbs out at the Fortress and Ravens are top notch.

If it's blazing hot, the Reef is the place. Otherwise, while you will roast a bit in the sun, you're at close to 9K ft and with a little breeze...

You can generally then hit lower crags on your way down the mountain. Lots of stuff in the Windy point area goes into the shade starting at various afternoon times.