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Elevation: 7,704 ft
GPS: 35.2542, -111.62346
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 64,175 total · 294/month
Shared By: Will Cobb on Apr 21, 2006
Admins: Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen

Description Suggest change

The West Elden climbing area is made up of a 80' tall Dacite cliff which hosts a large number of traditional routes. This climbing expanse houses excellent crack, slab and face climbs of all grades. West Elden has morning shade and afternoon sun. The crag also sits at about 7000' making it a great summertime get away. It is climbable in the fall and spring, but don't' count on it as weather in Flagstaff is difficult to predict.

In his excellent and comprehensive book, A Cheap Way to Fly, Tim Toula breaks West Elden into Uptown, which is north of the fence, and Downtown, which is south of the fence. To aid in the use of his guide I have kept the same labels here.

West Elden Bouldering

Getting There Suggest change

Drive north out of Flagstaff on Highway 180 for about three miles. After passing the Museum of Northern Arizona (which is on the left) look for a right hand turn on to Shultz Pass Road. Take this turn and drive about 1/4 mile to a fork in the road. The left fork continues on Shultz Pass Road while the right is Mount Elden Lookout Road. Take the right fork and drive about three and a half miles to the parking area. Approximately two miles of this drive is on pavement and one and a half miles on a well maintained dirt road. The parking for West Elden is in two pullouts on the right hand side of the road. There is a small kiosk at the first pullout.

41 Total Climbs

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Location: West Elden Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at West Elden

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 59
Five Easy Pieces
Trad
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 18
PMC
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 8
Baxter Crack
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 16
Cracktus
Trad
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 77
Right Deception Crack
Trad
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 49
Zit Slab
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13
 15
Verse in Ragtime
Trad, Sport
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 35
Left Deception
Trad
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 19
Flameout
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 20
The Prow
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
 17
Middle Deception Crack
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 17
La Diosa
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13
 5
Watermelon
Trad
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c PG13
 11
Twilight Zone
Trad
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 10
Bold is Love
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Five Easy Pieces Uptown
 59
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad
PMC Uptown
 18
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad
Baxter Crack Uptown
 8
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
Cracktus Downtown
 16
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Right Deception Crack Uptown
 77
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Zit Slab Uptown
 49
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Verse in Ragtime Uptown
 15
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13 Trad, Sport
Left Deception Uptown
 35
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Trad
Flameout Downtown
 19
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Trad
The Prow Uptown
 20
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad
Middle Deception Crack Uptown
 17
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13 Trad
La Diosa Downtown
 17
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Watermelon Downtown
 5
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b PG13 Trad
Twilight Zone Downtown
 11
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c PG13 Trad
Bold is Love Uptown
 10
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad
More Classic Climbs in West Elden »

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