Paradise Forks (AKA Sycamore Falls) is a beautiful columnar basalt climbing area located about a half-hour west of Flagstaff. The area is in Sycamore Canyon at a point where the canyon is actually a Y-shaped confluence of drainages. There are two seasonal waterfalls and pools at the ends of the Y, and the point where the Y merges is the popular "Prow" area. The Prow, The Gold Wall, and the Davidson Wall offer the longest routes which are up to about 90'.
One distinguishing characteristic of the area is that almost all routes are approached from above by fixing a line and rapping in. Also, there are exactly zero sport climbs at The Forks and just a handful of bolts (I can only think of 7: two sets of anchors in the choss at the White Wall, and the three on Australians At The Forks). The area really lends itself to trad climbing up beautiful, varied crack systems. Rock is bullet-hard, pro is typically bombproof, and friction varies from polished to grippy. Expect stout ratings.
If trees are used for an all day rap line, please pad the tree, and then place a piece of gear near the edge of the cliff to take the full load of the rappel, leaving just enough slack in the line so the tree is never directly loaded. This way you don't have to have a full bombproof trad anchor, just a piece or two and the tree simply offers you an ultimate back up, without being affected.
Nestled in a pine forest, the area is quiet, peaceful, and fairly pristine; please try to keep it that way.
Many thanks to Larry Coats for providing first ascent information!
Seasonal access alert
"Eagles, falcons, hawks, and migratory birds build nests in shallow depressions on ledges, cliffs and rock walls, often returning to the same site year after year. The Forest Service and Northern AZ Climbers Coalition request that climbers avoid certain routes during critical nesting periods (typically March through early August).
In 2024, Wild Wall is closed due to Mexican Spotted Owls until August 31st, unless lifted sooner. The USFS will be frequently monitoring the Mexican Spotted Owls so that they can open areas as soon as possible. Successful partnership with the Forest Service biologists has allowed for closure of select routes and walls, instead of the entire area, and we ask that climbers adhere to these closures. If you have questions, concerns, or would like to report a bird sighting, please reach out to the Northern Arizona Climbers Coalition at board@nazcc.org or the US Forest Service @ 928-635-5635 and ask to speak with a biologist."
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Flagstaff, AZ
Local climbers will be checking on the nest frequently from the far side of the canyon in order to minimize disturbance. Once it has been determined that the nest is abandon for the season the closure will be discontinued.
I believe that this is a great opportunity for climbers to show the Forest Service that we are capable of self-policing and are dedicated to environmental friendly action. Please avoid the Gold Wall until it is determined that the birds are finished with the nest. May 14, 2008
"One distinguishing characteristic of the area is that almost all routes are approached from above by fixing a line and rapping in"
For many years, it was very rare to rap in to either canyon.
The standard way in was to do the silver pond down climb and then walk to the base of the climb. On rare occasions, almost always in a late afternoon, someone might rap into the Gold Pond to do a last route of the day. But walking in was the standard (and preferred) method. Pika the wonder dog used to do the down climb, generally with a rope on but not always :-0
Also for years, all climbs were led ground up. The harder ones often requiring more than a few tries. Nothing was ever rehearsed on TR. This ethic came from Scott Baxter, who was influenced by the Valley ethics of the times. This has the possible advantage of not trashing the tops of climbs since you don't have TRs running all over the place and disturbing the top soil.
Times have changed. Most folks want to do more faster. My experience though tells me that I'm much more satisfied with finally getting a difficult ground up lead (which would usually grind me up and spit me out) than something done in a short cutting fashion. I just do not get the same feeling of accomplishment by wiring something out on TR and then leading it. To each their own, until one's actions start affecting others.
It's pretty clear that the now common practice of TRing at the Forks has had a very detrimental effect on the topsoil and cliff tops. Might be time to reconsider standard practices. I know the locals have struggled with this issue for years. Oct 6, 2010
Phoenix, Arizona
Thanks,
Dan Oct 19, 2010
Hamilton, MT
Some climbs are more conducive to the TR (Mayflower sets up easily with very little damage other than to your rope) than others but many are not. As I recall, to set a TR on DD you have to run a line way back to a big jack which means a lot of rope over dirt that is going up and down and back and forth as folks fall off it. That increases errosion. At one point this had become a rather serious problem for that part of the cliff. So much so that the FS got involved and helped fund some maintenance and experimental methods.
The original ethic of ground up only is another matter and part of the Games Climbers Play. I preferred that game but that's just me.
I still prefer to lead. Mar 28, 2012
Tucson
Nevada
in MY mind, it is the same as rappelling because the rope doesn't move much and it is even possible for some tr solo set-ups to be less of an impact than bringing up a second after leading.
i've never seen tr solo more anywhere else, curious on your thoughts...
thanks!
jon May 17, 2012
Colorado megalopolis
With the ground-up ethic (which I have practiced on all but one ascent at the Forks), it still seems to me that there's a lot of erosion because you must set an anchor, top-out, and then rap back down into the canyon. Doesn't seem much different than TR to me.
But Paul says:
"For many years, it was very rare to rap in to either canyon.
The standard way in was to do the silver pond down climb and then walk to the base of the climb."
So I guess my question is, after every climb, you would then walk over and do the down climb again, right (and even with that there's at least some erosion)? It seems like this is the heart of the matter: there's plenty of people still climbing ground-up at the Forks, but I'm not aware of anyone who still uses the method that Paul describes. So the impact of modern ground-up climbing seems basically the same as that of top-roping, aside from the fact that top-roping simply makes things more crowded.
No matter how you climb here, you've got to top out at some point, right? May 17, 2012
Tucson/DMR
There's no doubt that you have to top out some time. I think that setting TRs results in more time spent at the top.
Here's what I am picturing as an example.
1) A party arrives at the top to set up a TR. The two walk back and forth a couple of times from the trees to the cliff edge to lay the webbing or static line out. Then perhaps they walk back and forth another time to get the anchor equalized, and perhaps one more time to get their rap set up and rap the route.
After they finish, they top out and walk back and forth to break it down before moving to the next climb.
2) A party goes ground up. The leader tops out and builds an anchor. The second climbs, they break down the anchor, and walk down. (Or perhaps go to a rap station set up by one party and used by several.)
It seems to me that TR setups require more travel around the top of the cliff. Of course, were the situation such that the terrain on top was all rock and very durable and the bottom more fragile, this might be the best way to go.
Just my two cents. May 17, 2012
Cochise and Custer
There's also a route in the overhanging choss section between Davidsons and Sign Wall, bouldery steep and fingers scabbing locks, tried it twice and would guess it to be in the solid .12 range.
I would love to hear from some of the old school Jedi about what their favorite route(s) here, and especially why.
Ryan Jul 2, 2012
Phoenix & Prescott, AZ
(1) A low clearance vehicle will do just fine on the more direct road in from Parks Exit. Even in pouring rain the road is excellent and well maintained! If you do decide to go to the next exit and come in, then bear left at the "Y" in Garland Prairie Rd after a few miles.
(2) Clear mountain lion scat found around the canyon, just FYI. Called Game and Fish and apparently that's common for around there, but figured those of you camping with small dogs and cats (!) might want to know. Jul 30, 2012
Of course without a true study this is all conjecture but here's my thoughts on why the TR is more destructive on the erosion side.
It's not so much the act of setting the anchors and walking around that creates the real problems. It's the anchor itself where the rope runs across the topsoil and is then weighted up and down with falls and dogging.
But most anchors on the DD I've seen run a rope for many feet across bare soil and then saw up and down, back and forth as the crew tries to do the climb and that is the culprit.
If someone sets a TR, never weights it, then I would have to think your analysis is spot on. The difference between that and a lead belay is just about minimal. Of course, if you're flashing on a TR, sort of begs the question of why ?
There are plenty of climbs where TRs at the forks are not much of an issue. Mayflower et.al. can be setup all on nuts off the little shelf or with very little issue from the two trees right there.
My understanding is that the area that had the worst problem was up above the Pillow wall. I understand there was an attempt at erosion control project sometime in mid '80s with the USFS. Don't know how succesful it was.
I don't get out there much anymore. Last time was spring '11 and I was surprised at overall how well the place looked. But it was March so just coming out of the snow.
The silver pond "walk down" was pretty much the standard way in.
For the first time or two of the season, when we'd bring others out, etc... we'd drop nuts in the top and hang a line for either a belay or a hand line. Once we had it wired again, it was a simple third class. Pika the wonder dog could do it but he was usually given either a belay or he'd take a long swim (inside joke there). When it was wet, iced, snowed in, etc... we'd do the rap from somewhere. Occasionaly we'd do a late day rap to get to the gold pond without the walk around.
Bottom line is that it's a small area and climbing populations have exploded.
A few of my fav climbs missing from ryan's list that pop to mind: Waterslip Down, UKD, Acid Test, Black Rose, Negra Prima, the Prow. There was (is) a great fun 5.8, Kon Tiki over to the west of Ivory Snow. I suspect you have to have climbed a lot of stuff to actually like it since I think it was a lichen/moss fest thing but fun moves. I suspect the name is the clue to finding the route. One of the pillars closest to the Silver pond.
Not sure I ever did a climb there I didn't like (which probably says more about me and loss of memory.)
Edit: for John Moreland.
John, the Silver Pond down climb is to climbers right of Black Rose. 15-20 ft corner to a ledge and then scramble down to base of pond. Like many descents much more obvious from below than above. Find it that way. Hidden holds good locks. Fun easy lead if desired. Aug 14, 2012
Lander, Wy
Lower Hutt, NZ
Los Angeles, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Sacramento
How about establishing an actual rap line that promotes the least amount of erosion (potentially in the 5.1 little gully by pillow wall) and put bolted anchors at the end of climbs out of the reach of top ropers, so you don't have to top out everything and re rappell in.
I mean every climb, even if you lead ground up, still requires a rap line to get back into the canyon.
I'm definitely for the argument of decreasing erosion in a place like the forks, but it doesn't seem like anyone is truly thinking outside the box to promote it. And unfortunately, the no bolts ethics is a double edged sword. If you can't just lower off each climb, then you're forced to walk around up on the edge where most erosion is going to happen to get back to the base. Honestly, it's probably why you're seeing so much erosion. Its not TRing or going ground up. It's not having the ability to stay in the canyon on a durable surface. The top outs and edge of the canyon is not even close to as durable of a surface as the base of the canyon. With the set up you have, ground up climbers are still forced to mess around with ropes at the top.
Solution:
1. have an established rappell line(bolted anchor) and educate the community on where it is and that it should be the way to get in to the canyon.
2. Have fixed anchors at the end of climbs, but still within the vertical to allow climbers to return to the base of their crag and keep climbing in the canyon rather than topping out.
3. Promote going ground up and actually using an established way in and potentially out. May 14, 2020
Flagstaff, AZ
There have been several forums over the last decade or more about this topic with numerous ideas about how to address the situation. Ideas are not the problem. Getting everyone to agree on solutions is the problem. May 14, 2020
No bolted lower offs?
THAT is the only solution. Feb 7, 2022
Mount Victoria, New South W…
n az