Trust for Public Land, Local Partners Secure Permanent Protection of Upper Sullivan Canyon, Safeguarding Key Verde River Rock Climbing Site

Photo: Upper Sullivan’s Canyon

Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership with the Town of Chino Valley, Prescott Climbers Coalition, and Yavapai County, announced the permanent protection of Upper Sullivan’s Canyon— a unique outdoor recreation areas in central Arizona and a culturally and ecologically significant segment of the upper stretch of the Verde River.

Located in the Chino Valley area north of Prescott, Arizona, Upper Sullivan’s Canyon is a landscape shaped by time, water, and human history—a canyon offering adventure and discovery in every direction. The area began attracting climbers in the mid-1970s, gaining recognition for its striking basalt formations and dramatic canyon vistas. Unlike the nearby traditional granite climbing landscapes, Upper Sullivan Canyon’s columnar basalt provides exceptional crack climbing routes suitable for both new and experienced climbers. Its north- and south-facing walls enable year-round climbing and have long made it a valued site for training, including use by local fire departments for search and rescue preparation.

Through the success of this partnership, TPL was able to transfer ownership of the property to the Town of Chino Valley, thereby securing the site as a recreational, cultural, and ecological gem for future generations.

“Upper Sullivan Canyon is a rare place where outdoor recreation, cultural history, and vital watershed protection all come together,” said Michael Patrick, Senior Project Manager for Trust for Public Land. “By working alongside the Prescott Climbers Coalition and the Town of Chino Valley, we’re ensuring this extraordinary landscape remains accessible for generations to come, while preserving its ecological and cultural significance.”

The Town of Chino Valley’s ownership of the property builds on its long-standing commitment to expanding outdoor recreation as a cornerstone of its economic development to become “Arizona’s Outdoor Fun Place”.

“Chino Valley is proud to take ownership of Upper Sullivan’s Canyon” said Tom Armstrong, Mayor of the Town of Chino Valley. “It is a beautiful piece of our community, and we look forward to protecting it and keeping it available for everyone to enjoy.”

Prescott Climbers Coalition (PCC), dedicated to preserving climbing access and promoting responsible outdoor climbing recreation in the area was a leading partner in the project, and conducted a successful fundraising campaign to contribute to the property’s purchase. PCC will continue collaborating with the Town of Chino Valley on land stewardship activities, including installing and maintaining signage, and removing trash and graffiti.

“The climbing area locally known as Upper Sullivan’s Canyon has been enjoyed by a wide range of climbing groups in Arizona for many decades,” said Mac McCaleb, President of Prescott Climbers Coalition. “It provides an easily approachable and accessible experience for anyone who is seeking to increase their confidence and advance their skillset in rock climbing. To top it off, the surrounding landscape provides a unique immersion into the intersection of the past, present, and future – through experiencing historical sites, viewing current flora and fauna, and inviting reflection on Arizona’s increasingly limited water resources. We are excited to see its protection for continued enjoyment and look forward to continuing the work with the Town of Chino Valley.”

The permanently protected 10.5-acre Upper Sullivan Canyon property sits at the headwaters of the Verde River. To the west, it borders a 148-acre parcel purchased by TPL in March 2024 and now owned by Arizona State Parks C Trails, slated to become a future state park known as Verde River Headwaters State Park. This adjacent property includes Sullivan Lake, which is recognized as “mile zero” of the Verde River. To the east, it connects directly to the Upper Verde River Wildlife Management Area, managed by Arizona Game and Fish.

Yavapai County contributed to this success by providing some of the acquisition funds for the Town’s purchase.

“Yavapai County is glad to be a partner in the acquisition of the major portion of the park and more recently, also in acquiring Sullivan Canyon,” Yavapai County Supervisor Chris Kuknyo added. The area that includes Sullivan Canyon is a great addition to the future of the Del Rio State Park and happy to have been a part of the project to purchase it for the Town of Chino Valley.”

Upper Sullivan Canyon is the only privately held parcel along the first 20 miles of the Verde River, which is widely regarded by conservation organizations as one of Arizona’s most important waterways—for its ecological diversity, wildlife habitat, and its critical role as a major water source for the Phoenix metropolitan area. A coalition is currently pursuing Congressional designation of the Upper Verde River as a Wild and Scenic River.

Beyond recreation, Upper Sullivan Canyon contains significant cultural and historical resources. Visitors can find petroglyphs, prehistoric cave shelters containing pot sherds, remnants of a one-room prehistoric structure, and the remains of a historic railroad bridge crossing the canyon. These elements will now be permanently safeguarded.

The property also offers critical potential for future trail connectivity. It is expected to serve as an important link to a future Upper Verde River recreational trail — a top priority for the Town and several local recreation groups.

The acquisition by the Town was funded through a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant (federal funds administered in the state by Arizona State Parks C Trails), Yavapai County and a successful fundraising campaign by Prescott Climbers Coalition. Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust also made a significant contribution to TPL to cover the costs of undertaking this project.

About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.