Climbing in PHX Area

I'm moving to phx from Seattle at the end of the year and hoping to get the scoop on nearby climbing. I love being able to do weekday cragging or weekend trips within a couple of hours. I like sport and trad, I'm not picky! Does anyone have any thoughts on how the nearby climbing is/where the best places to go are? I'll also be looking for new gym and outdoor partners so feel free to reach out if you wanna climb!

Phx sprawls for miles.  Traffic and your schedule will dictate where, even if, you can crag after work. (I assume by cragging you mean rope climbing).  Closest spots are probably Camel Back, South Mountain or the crags in NE Phx like Pinnacle Peak.  None of these are three star, perhaps save for the routes on Pinnacle Peak itself.  Weekends are when you can get to some good climbing, such as Sedona, Flagstaff, Prescott, the Homestead, and so forth.  All of those locations are around 2 hours away from Phx proper.  

In terms of gym, Phoenix metro has more and more.  Take a tour of them before you commit to one.  Focus and Black Rock specialize in bouldering.  The Bouldering Projects are opening a spot in Tempe (exact date TBD). Alta is the new rope climbing spot.  But, like cragging, traffic will likely play a big role in determining where you end up.  Best of luck!

If you can choose where to live/work at all, life will be easier on the east side of the Phx metro area. All the close by climbing is NE/E/SE from town. More gyms in the eastern half of town too.

McDowells and Pinnacle are great desert granite, similar to jtree. Superstitions are the local "desert alpine" playground. Queen Creek for sport.

long day trip/weekend range- Sedona, both single and multipitch; Mt Lemmon; Flagstaff bouldering Priest Draw, Granite mtn, Iso Canyon for outdoor gym days

5 hours to Tahquitz, 4 to jtree

I’ll be in Apache Junction November to April. I’m an active senior climber ,looking to climb easy 10’s . Over 45 years experience, and numerous first ascents. Climbed a fair bit at Queen Creek , looking to visit The Homestead and also Jacks. I found the crags around Phoenix disappointing,coming from Skaha Bluffs in BC Canada   mountainproject.com/area/10…
text to six 0 four eight o two 5 nine five one.

Hi! I’ve also just moved to Phoenix and am looking for a climbing partner. I’ve got a lot of availability during the week and the weekend. Just let me know! My # is (502)996-0864