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Elevation: 5,710 ft
GPS: 32.92904, -107.2356
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 141,335 total · 796/month
Shared By: LeeAB Brinckerhoff on Aug 26, 2009
Admins: Shirtless Mike, Jason Halladay, Mike Hoskins, Anna Brown

Description Suggest change

A very wild and as yet undeveloped area with tons of rock, how much of it is climbable and reasonably accessable is up for debate. The main aspect of the cliff line is west facing and bakes in the afternoon sun, though as the cliff contours along the hillside there are more north and south facing aspects as well. The rock is limestone and varies from great to pretty bad onion skin.

This is a pretty rough area and requires 4x4 and clearance to make it all the way to the highest parking. There are no services with in about 45 minutes so plan accordingly. Cliffs range from about 100 feet to close to 300 or taller.

Many years ago Bryan Pletta, Dave Baltz and Doug Teague did some exploring and put up a handful of mixed routes at a small cliff in the Bat Cave area but could not get others motivated to go down and continue development. The area sat for many years without any further development untill the winter of 2008/2009 when Timmy Fairfield, John Kear, Marc Beverly and Lance Hadfield among others started to add routes. Bryan also returned and added bolts to his mixed routes to make them sport climbs.

Getting There Suggest change

Driving to the Bat Cave area requires a high clearance vehicle to get within reasonable hiking distance. From the interstate exit, the first 3.5 miles is on pavement and good dirt roads. The final 2 miles is very rocky but passable with "Subaru/Rav4" SUV clearance. The final 1/2 mile is the worst and there is a good parking/camping option at this "T" intersection.

From I-25 take Exit 59 (Arrey Derry/ Caballo Percha State Parks) exit.

If coming from the north, turn right (southwest) at the exit onto highway 187 and drive for 2.7 mi.
Take a left onto W. Wagoneer Rd. and drive for 1.1 mi.
Take a left onto Sugar Sand/Tumbleweed Rd. for 0.7 mi.
Veer right onto dirt for 0.2 mi.
Take a left at "T", drive under highway in single lane tunnel for 2.6 miles to fork at the dam.
From the dam, continue for about 3.5 miles to the rough "4x4" road(sometimes a rock carin here.) Turn right onto this rocky track and go about .7 miles to a rutted hill--this section requires "Subaru" clearance but isn't too bad.
Bear left on the fork at .9 miles, continue to the final fork at 1.5 miles and go right. This is a good "low clearance" camp option. Continue past a few ruts to the final hill (another parking option) and go up this to the final "T" at 1.9 miles. This is the best parking spot instead of the end of the road since several cars can park here. Walk or drive east up to the high camp. The road ends just beyond the high camp and is the access to Gotham City. The main trail to all the other crags begins from the north end of the "High Camp". Hiking to the high camp and using this less steep trail is more sustainable than the steep trail which starts at the end of the other road beyond that final parking "T".

There are two good parking/camping areas where the hiking trail starts.
For the first (lower) one take the left and continue to the end.
For the second (higher) one continue .25 mi to the end. There are two flat spots and several areas for a rough campsite.

95 Total Climbs

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Location: Caballo Lake Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Caballo Lake

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 23
Harley Quinn Devotion
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 30
Two Face
Sport
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 34
Crystal Mess
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 32
I'll Be Your Poison Ivy
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 35
Dynamic Duo
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 44
Mega Man
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 14
Raising the Barr
Sport
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 22
Super Hero
Sport 2 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 29
Morning Commute
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 10
Gambit
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 24
[Redacted]
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 5
The Odyssey
Sport 2 pitches
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 14
Old Man Direct
Sport
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 12
New Beginning
Sport
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 7
Bella Donna
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Harley Quinn Devotion Bat Cave Area > Villain Wall
 23
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Sport
Two Face Bat Cave Area > Villain Wall
 30
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Crystal Mess Bat Cave Area > Super Hero Wall (Grey…
 34
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Sport
I'll Be Your Poison Ivy Bat Cave Area > Villain Wall
 32
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Dynamic Duo Bat Cave Area > Super Hero Wall (Grey…
 35
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Mega Man Bat Cave Area > Super Hero Wall (Grey…
 44
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Raising the Barr Bat Cave Area > Barr
 14
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Super Hero Bat Cave Area > Super Hero Wall (Grey…
 22
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport 2 pitches
Morning Commute Bat Cave Area > Bat Cave
 29
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Gambit Bat Cave Area > Super Hero Wall (Grey…
 10
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
[Redacted] Bat Cave Area > Bat Cave
 24
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
The Odyssey Bat Cave Area > Trojan Wall (Right of…
 5
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport 2 pitches
Old Man Direct Bat Cave Area > Bat Cave
 14
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
New Beginning Bat Cave Area > New Beginnings Wall
 12
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Sport
Bella Donna Bat Cave Area > Bat Cave
 7
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Caballo Lake »

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