(Little) Granite Mountain Access Plan - Request for input

The City of Scottsdale is seeking public input on the Conceptual Rock Climbing Plan for the Granite Mountain area of the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This location is sometimes informally referred to as “Little Granite Mountain,” even though the official name is “Granite Mountain.”

The City acquired Granite Mountain and the surrounding land from the Arizona State Land Department in 2011 and 2012. Rock climbing has occurred on the mountain for many years. It is the City’s goal to continue to provide rock climbing access, and manage it in a way that offers a high-quality experience for the users, while assuring protection of the natural environment.

The City has a climbing management plan in place that establishes the policies regarding rock climbing. That plan will cover Granite Mountain and is not changing. What is being presented in this draft map for climbing access to the climbing crags.

The map officially designates the historically climbed crags on Granite Mountain, and includes a conceptual system of climbing access routes which connects the primary Preserve trails to the climbing crags. The access routes will be cleaned up a bit and directional signs installed, comparable to the climbing areas in the northern region of the McDowell Mountains (Tom’s Thumb area). This work will be completed in conjunction with the Arizona Mountaineering Club.

You can view these details and draft map at scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve/rcgm.

It contains a link to the map and a form to use for submitting any comments directly to the City. Comments are due by March 20th, 2015.

Thank you for your time and interest in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve. www.scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve/rcgm and comment card

One thing that I personally believe and you all might consider is that, with the nearest trail head now at the power line road and 136th Street, access to the Mogul Wall and the other fine climbing crags on the north end is almost prohibitively a long way from parking. The City might consider a small public trail head at 136th Street and Dove Valley for the multiple users groups so please consider adding that to your comments if you agree.

The public comment period has ended. Thanks to everyone who took the time to write in to the City. I'll let you know what the final plan is when it is approved.