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Elevation: 3,500 ft 1,067 m
GPS: 33.3104, -111.06756
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 167,707 total · 728/month
Shared By: Orphaned on Jan 20, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Zach Levy, Sierra Blair, Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen
Warning Access Issue: Must Register! Private Property-The Pond, Atlantis and Mine Area DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

The Pond is one of the most popular destinations at Queen Creek, and for good reason. There are a multitude of good moderate routes here, mostly on good pocketed rock. The area faces south is generally in the sun and warm, so plan appropriately.

Getting There Suggest change

1. Parking is 0.5 miles up canyon after exiting the tunnel on highway 60 just east of Superior, AZ. This is the third pull off on the right. There is a large rocky mound in the middle of the parking area, which is a good landmark. Lat, long: 33.308581, -111.070607 Google Maps: https://maps.google.com?q=33.308581,-111.070607
2. Walk up the canyon along the road for approximately 300 yards until you reach a bridge, then cross either under the bridge or on the road (a), depending on your comfort level with dodging texting teens and semis.
3. from here (b) work your way across the boulders up and to the right towards a small tree at the edge of a small pool.
4. Traverse behind the tree around the edge of the pool. Or if you have your hands full with climbing gear, a stick clip, a sack lunch, a rambunctious dog, etc…
4.alt. Take an alternate route from right of the whitish boulder up and over through some 3rd class terrain and drop back down on the back right side of the pool.
5. Work your way up through some more vertical 3rd-4th class terrain behind and to the right of the pool. There is a webbing hand line attached to a piece of rebar (e) and a rebar ladder to facilitate the steeper terrain (especially on the reverse trip).
6. Work back left across the stream via a few different options, and you should be able to see the eponymous “pond” and the start of many of the routes such as “Dead Pool, Easy Pool, and the big sweeping overhanging wall with the area test pieces like “Desert Devil” and “The Emerald”
7. Continue up a trail at the base of the wall behind and heading up and to the left from the pond to get to the rest of the routes.
8. If you reach a wide flat area with a heinous looking roof climb to your right, a rock cairn, and a view down and out of the canyon, you’ve reached a good reference point to get you oriented to the climbs of the area. The big roof is “Just Can’t Get Any” (5.12b), and Arete Horizon (5.10a) and Pocket Puzzle (5.10a) to the left, and Rocky Horror Picture Show (5.10d) and Pocket Pulling Pansies (5.10) to the right.

85 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at The Pond

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 138
Pocket Warmer
Sport
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 160
Easy Pool
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 123
Follow Your Heart
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 141
Dead Pool
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 104
The Casting Couch
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 373
Pocket Puzzle
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 178
Arete Horizon
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 90
Pocket Pow-Wow
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 110
Pocket Party
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 105
In Seam
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 77
Space Hog
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 79
The Big Weld Show
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 138
The Soft Parade
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 20
Return From the Great Mormon Exp…
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 33
Desert Devil
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Pocket Warmer
 138
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
Easy Pool
 160
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Sport
Follow Your Heart
 123
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Dead Pool
 141
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
The Casting Couch
 104
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Pocket Puzzle
 373
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Arete Horizon
 178
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Pocket Pow-Wow
 90
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Pocket Party
 110
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
In Seam
 105
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Space Hog
 77
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
The Big Weld Show
 79
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
The Soft Parade
 138
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Return From the Great Mormo…
 20
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Desert Devil
 33
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
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