What you get on this adventure: An experienced, local AMGA certified single-pitch instructor and apprentice alpine guide or apprentice rock guide A half or a full day of rock climbing All rock climbing gear (harness, helmet, rock shoes, etc.) Supplemental equipment available upon request What’s not included: Transportation to the meeting location in Tucson, AZ Accommodations Lunch, snacks, and water Personal hiking or climbing clothing and equipment Costs associated with weather delays or other variables beyond guide’s control

What about required equipment?

All technical climbing equipment will be provided by your guiding service. However, if you have your own gear, feel free to bring it. You’ll need: Helmet Closed-toed shoes Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 40L bag) Rock climbing shoes and harness (included in the price, but we recommend bringing your own if you have them) Personal prescription medications (for example epinephrine auto-injectors for anaphylactic allergies) Sun protection (lip balm, sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brim hat, etc.) Water bottle (1L minimum) Weather appropriate clothing (layers to help keep you comfortable and/or dry, such as synthetic materials and wool) Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Guided Rock Climbing on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona

Top three reasons to go rock climbing on Mt. Lemmon

The highest concentration of climbing routes in Arizona
Mt. Lemmon’s peak at 9,157 ft. is the tallest peak in the Santa Catalina Mountains
Diverse environments at different altitudes, from desert saguaro cacti to conifer forests

Get your juices flowing on some of the 2,000 climbing routes that Mt. Lemmon has to offer. As the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona, there is climbing to be had up and down its 6,000 ft of rise. With so many possibilities at your hands and feet, you can cherry-pick the most appealing routes, be it with vistas of the Sonoran Desert or the surrounding Sky Islands. When life gives you Lemmons, make a day of climbing out of it!

Season Year round	Nearest city Tucson, Arizona is just an hour away
Duration 1 day	Skill level Beginner to advanced

Book this adventure

Mt. Lemmon is a fruit basket of climbing, so go bananas for this short and sweet climbing experience. With the highest concentration of climbing routes in the whole of Arizona, opt for quick single-pitch climbs or spend some time on peaches and cream multi-pitches. Depending on your chosen elevation, you also get to choose your backdrop: a desert environment or perennial forests. No matter how busy you are, you can definitely squeeze in several hours of rock climbing on Mt. Lemmon!

Juice the maximum out of Mt. Lemmon by going on a full-day climb! With over 2,000 routes waiting to be discovered, you won’t struggle finding those two perfect crags where you’ll spend your day. Trad, sport, or mixed, this unique Arizona area has it all. Let your AMGA certified guide help you achieve your goals, whether you’re a total beginner or a skilled climber. Find your little slice of heaven on Mt. Lemmon.

Meet your guide

Granite Mountain Guides

With over 20+ years of technical climbing and instructional experience housed in the organization, Granite Mountain Guides focus on quality instruction and experiences while providing a positive, risk-managed environment to learn. As a locally owned and operated organization, they provide guided trips that promote the preservation of local wilderness areas, all the while making sure you have fun while achieving your goals!

Reviews (3)

Stephen “stephen jams” Rusnock about Granite Mountain Guides on Google Review

Morgan was so amazing and patient! Granite Mountain Guides pride themselves on safety first and also understand how to create a fun and enjoyable environment for their students. I will be taking additional classes with this group and could not be anymore delighted!

Matthew Fisher about Granite Mountain Guides on Google Review

My first time climbing outdoors along with my two sons, who are 17 and 10. Matt the guide was amazing, and Mac the owner was outstanding and efficient. Matt was helpful, a great teacher, super positive, and really helped my boys get everything they wanted out of the experience. We will definitely book these guys next time. If you are hesitating at all – don’t. All three of us have very different abilities and Matt made it fun for all of us. Cannot say enough nice things. Thanks for being part of our vacation guys!

Burt D. about Granite Mountain Guides on Origin

Alex was an amazing guide! His knowledge and positive energy made for a successful and memorable day for the whole family. He customized the climbing to suit our different levels of experience and even included a repel at the end of the day which was a new experience for the boys. The gear was all new and top quality – no complaints. Couldn’t have asked for a better guide or experience!

Things to know

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Mt. Lemmon, Arizona, please refer to Arizona Office of Tourism or Arizona’s Travel Advisories.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get on this adventure:

- An experienced, local AMGA certified single-pitch instructor and apprentice alpine guide or apprentice rock guide
- A half or a full day of rock climbing
- All rock climbing gear (harness, helmet, rock shoes, etc.)
- Supplemental equipment available upon request

What’s not included:

- Transportation to the meeting location in Tucson, AZ
- Accommodations
- Lunch, snacks, and water
- Personal hiking or climbing clothing and equipment
- Costs associated with weather delays or other variables beyond guide’s control

If you can climb a ladder, you’re good to go. Being in good shape is always a plus but far from necessary. Rock climbing is all about using good movement technique rather than muscling up a cliff using brute strength. To ensure you have a fun day, your guide will choose routes that best suit your skill and fitness level.

No prior experience is necessary for rock climbing on Mt. Lemmon. Whether you’ve never donned a harness or you’re a seasoned climber, a guide will help you meet your individual objectives. Since there are many great climbing areas on Mt. Lemmon, your guides will create a personalized climbing trip that caters to your skillset and aspirations. Above all, your instructor’s number one priority is your safety. As long as you listen to the given instructions, you’ll succeed in completing your climb.

All technical climbing equipment will be provided by your guiding service. However, if you have your own gear, feel free to bring it. You’ll need:

- Helmet
- Closed-toed shoes
- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 40L bag)
- Rock climbing shoes and harness (included in the price, but we recommend bringing your own if you have them)
- Personal prescription medications (for example epinephrine auto-injectors for anaphylactic allergies)
- Sun protection (lip balm, sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brim hat, etc.)
- Water bottle (1L minimum)
- Weather appropriate clothing (layers to help keep you comfortable and/or dry, such as synthetic materials and wool)

Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and prices:

- The group size is up to 10 people. The usual guest-to-guide ratio is 5:1. The adventure operates even if there’s only one climber.
- Costs per person decrease as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to climb with friends and family.

Climbing adventure on Mt. Lemmon can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.

Min. age requirements:

- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 and older than 4 may be permitted to climb, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

To get to Mt. Lemmon, most people fly into Tucson International Airport, which is a 20-minute drive from the city center.

You’ll meet your guide at LeBuzz Caffe, 9121 E Tanque Verde Rd #125, Tucson, AZ 85711. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.

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