Escalera Arabe

Escalera Arabe or the Arab Steps is the highest set face of the Frontales range, also referred to in Spanish as the Frontales Altas, the High Frontales. Escalera Arabe is a popular sunny crag with a wide variety of routes, more focused on the lower grades, with new routes bolted often. Generally climbers are attracted to Escalera Arabe by the entry-level full length multi-pitches and the iconic and photogenic "tooth" rock formation.

Escalera Arabe is almost completely in the sun the whole day, and not an optimal crag for hot, windy or wet weather.

Note:
Please respect the nature and do not climb the routes in the fenced area, even though the fence might be damaged.
⛑️ It is advisable to wear a helmet due to potential rockfall from multi-pitch lines and ibex 🐐.
⛰ The crag is situated in a nature park.

Find more information below sector by sector, from west to east ➡️:

SECTORS
1 - Sombra
Sombra, Spanish for "shade" tells you what you need to know. This maybe underappreciated sector provides both the hardest and the only routes in the shade on Escalera Arabe. Sombra is the sector farthest to west, on the backside of the cliff.

2 - Upstairs
The sector with the best view and routes, with some three star sixes and many low sevens.

3 - Stairs
The short hard routes on the "Arab steps" and the freshly bolted multipitch "Alcala de Guadaira"

4 - Sergio
The sector between the Escalera Suiza and the Stairs sectors. Routes in grades 4 to 6c. ⛑️ It is advisable to wear a helmet especially on this sector due to potential rockfall from other climbing parties.

5 - Escalera Suiza
The main face of the Frontales Altas with the most popular easy multi-pitches. ⛑️ It is advisable to wear a helmet especially on this sector due to potential rockfall from other climbing parties. A part of the sector is fenced off to protect flora on the wall.

6 - Mc Claud
Some nice steep harder lines and easier climbs on slab.

7 - El Navegador
The rightmost sector with climbing on the best routes banned. In addition to the banned routes, one good bolted and one trad multipitch start on this sector, left to the not permitted area. 🚫

General rules:
🦅 Respect the nature and wildlife
🏞 Follow the established paths
⛔️ Please don't park your car in the nature park
🚯 Take all rubbish with you including toilet papers
🔥 Don't light fires
🙏Respect the restricted areas

The crag is named after the steps made of stone that lead to the "tooth" rock formation. It is rumored the steps are built by the arabs in the 14th century, but the truth might be less romantic. There is no known evidence confirming the origin of the name. The proper name of the staircase is "La escalerilla del Picacho". Most likely the stairs are result of the restoration works in the area in in the mid 20th century.

🏞 Continuing the path past the Arab Steps and the tooth leads to the trail for Sierra Huma.