Cameltrack Canyon  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  35.6301, -106.135 Map Page Views:  2,339. Good page?    Administrators:  Aaron Hobson, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  George Perkins on Feb 6, 2010 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

BETA PHOTO: The 4 climbs with anchors at Cameltrack Canyon.
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Description 

Cameltrack Canyon is a forgotten 35' basalt area with 2 sport climbs and a few top rope options just west of Santa Fe. It has escaped publication, except for brief mention in Toula's Rock-N-Road guide, which says it was also referred to as "Asshole Canyon". This area is maybe worth checking out once if you want to explore a different area near Santa Fe, but is nowhere nearly as good, tall, or extensive as similar style basalt cragging at Diablo, White Rock, or Taos Gorge.

The climbs are on a south-facing wall, so the season is spring and fall, and warmer winter days.

From right to left, the climbs are:
Tap Dancing on Glass (5.12) sport, 3 bolts, 2-bolt anchor
Unknown Seam (~5.8) trad, 2-bolt anchor
Unknown- Left Sport route (~5.9) sport, 3 bolts, 2-bolt anchor
Unknown Corner (~5.8) trad, 2-bolt anchor
(05) finger crack through a roof, with a fixed sling, no anchor (I didn't try it. Looks 5.11?)

The anchors on the climbs can be reached from the top, if you don't want to lead (scramble up on either side). You may find other even shorter cracks or TR options suitable for beginners as well.

Rock-N-Road says this is a "locals secret area" and gives no directions. If someone wants to tell me why I shouldn't post this, please tell me and I'll consider removing this page (I'd also be happy to learn more info on the correct names, FAs, etc. too and post that here.) I found this area from a non-climber, who hiked in the area and didn't understand what the bolts were for and convinced me to go check it out. I asked some other climbers, but no one I talked to knew of this area. I didn't betray any locals' code of silence and the climbs are clearly 10+ years old and there's not much potential for any quality new lines. I don't think there should be any access issues, as it's BLM just like Diablo. This area will never be popular with its 30+ minute approach, short height, and small number of climbs, especially now that Diablo has been developed so much in recent years and with that road improved, Santa Fe climbers can so much more easily get more climbing done there.

The fossilized camel tracks have been hidden by the BLM to protect them from vandalism, supposedly.

Getting There 

From the Santa Fe Relief Route (NM 599) west of Santa Fe, go west on Airport Rd. 3.3 miles. Turn right on a dirt road at a sign for Camel Tracks Training Area. Go 0.5 miles on this road to a BLM sign and small parking area on the left.

Walk 100' farther along the road, and go north through a locked gate on an old 2-track road. Follow this old road about 10 minutes to a fork- take the left fork which is marked with a BLM trail sign. Follow this road/trail, which ends after a ways, and continue up the shallow drainage about 15 minutes. The climbs are at the tallest section of cliff, on the right wall (north side of canyon).

The Classics

Featured Route For Cameltrack Canyon

Unknown- Left Sport route 5.9  NM : Santa Fe Area : Cameltrack Canyon

The left bolted climb at the crag is pretty fun for the grade, for the location.Get on the small ledge 8' up. Thin edges on a slab that is more featured than it appears from below. Getting the good handholds after the 2nd bolt and figuring out what to do with your feet at this point is the crux.I'm happy to update name/FA info if posted....[more]   Browse More Classics in NM

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The roof with the finger crack that I didn't climb...