Alamo Canyon  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  4,000' Page Views:  12,385. Good page?    Administrators:  Kristine Hoffman, Greg Opland, James DeRoussel, JJ Schlick, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  James DeRoussel on Jul 10, 2010 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 106° | 72° 104° | 72° 104° | 75° 104° | 77° 104° | 77°

Closed January 1-April 30 MORE INFO >>> Special Closure Order #05-123 prohibits travel more then 400' off of established trails due to Bighorn Sheep lambing season. This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

Leviathan and surrounding formations

Description 

Alamo Canyon is home to some of the most spectacular rock formations on the north side of the Santa Catalinas, and provides a rugged backcountry experience to those willing to endure the long approach. Leviathin Dome, rising over 1000' from the base, is Alamo Canyon's crown jewel.

Getting There 

From Bob Kerry's Backcountry Rockclimbing in Southern Arizona:

Drive to Catalina State Park on Oracle Rd. (AZ 77) in Oro Valley. Pay the entrance fee and drive to the parking lot at the road's end. From the trail head, follow the sign for "birding loop" and then go left. After the "stairs", a dirt road intersects the loop at a bench. Take the dirt road, which turns into a horse trail, then into a sandy wash, and then back into a horse trail. This takes you to the mouth of Alamo Canyon.

Don't drop into the Canyon here, because it's very brushy. Instead follow the vague trail as it continues along the left side of the drainage. Eventually it peters out, but there are cairns and open spots for a ways which help you stay out of the canyon bottom. Drop into the canyon bottom when it becomes too much trouble to cross the intersecting washes on the side (about 1/4 mile). Follow the stream and then go straight uphill when you are just below the dome. Allow 2-3 hours.

The Classics

Featured Route For Alamo Canyon

User Friendly 5.9 PG13  AZ : Mount Lemmon (Santa Catalin... : ... : Leviathan Dome

Where the approach trail meets Leviathan is a long, right-facing corner that marks the start of the North Face route. Walk up left along the base of the rock passing a long left-facing corner. Just after you skirt a boulder blocking the base you will come to a small clearing. A small, tilted flat rock at the right end is a good place to start the route. If you can spot 2 dark, half-circles side by side about halfway up the first pitch,(see Beta picture,) you may be able to see the 1st bolt just...[more]   Browse More Classics in AZ