The Pond Rock Climbing
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Elevation: | 3,500 ft | 1,067 m |
GPS: |
33.3104, -111.06756 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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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 |
Access Issue: Must Register! Private Property-The Pond, Atlantis and Mine Area
Details
Climbing at The Pond, Atlantis and Mine Area are private property, and now requires that you register in order to gain legal access. This is an easy process. You can do this at: queencreekclimbing.com/.
This is a one-time and free process so once you are registered you are good to go.
You can read more about this process and the announcement at the Queen Creek Coalition website – theqcc.com or the Queen Creek Coalition’s Facebook page – facebook.com/Queen-Creek-Co…
This is a one-time and free process so once you are registered you are good to go.
You can read more about this process and the announcement at the Queen Creek Coalition website – theqcc.com or the Queen Creek Coalition’s Facebook page – facebook.com/Queen-Creek-Co…
Description
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
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.
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.
Classic Climbing Routes at The Pond
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
Weather Averages
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