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Elevation: 6,515 ft
GPS: 35.52747, -108.74269
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 139,206 total · 745/month
Shared By: Anthony Stout on Nov 9, 2008
Admins: Jason Halladay, Mike Hoskins, Anna Brown

Description Suggest change

A number of sandstone areas can be found in western New Mexico, in the region near Gallup and Grants.

Of these, the sandstone sport climbing of Mentmore is perhaps best known. Mentmore is a popular stopover for those passing through this section of the state, and is popular among the few devoted local climbers who live in this region.

More adventurous climbing can be found in this area too. Church Rock near Gallup is a scenic sandstone spire.

Getting There Suggest change

Gallup is 2 hours west of Albuquerque on I-40; or East from Arizona it's about 2.5-3 hrs from Flag to Gallup.

Accommodations

Suggest change
A common question about climbing at Mentmore is: where do I stay?

One option is one of the numerous cheap hotels in Gallup (but be careful if you do this, there are some sketchy looking ones as well).

Some have also stayed right there at the crag. It's not the greatest environment but I have never heard of anyone being harassed. Don't be too surprised though, if someone comes in to illegally unload a pile of trash.

The best option for camping is, as written in one of the comments below, to stay in the McGaffee forest just east of Gallup. From Mentmore, get back onto I-40 and head east. Drive back through Gallup and then about 10 minutes east of Gallup take the McGaffee exit. Turn south and continue driving past Ft. Windgate. When you get into the forest there are plenty of roads to turn off onto that provide great primitive camping in a beautiful ponderosa forest.

If you just happened to bring a mountain bike, there is really great mountain biking in the forest as well.

150 Total Climbs

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Location: Gallup Area Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Gallup Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V2- 5+
 4
Tall Arete
Boulder
V2 5+
 5
A-Frame
Boulder
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 31
Big Blobs of Love
Sport, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 17
Ego Terrorists
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 21
May Cause Health Problems
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 24
Inner Sanctum
Sport, TR
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
 23
Hookymaster General
Sport, TR
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 17
Cameron's Coming
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 26
Flakes Don't Fail Me Now
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 12
Muy Enfermo
Sport, TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 31
Not Suitable for Pregnant Women
Sport
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 6
Sink or Swim
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 6
Smegma Deluxe
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 5
Docile Dragon
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
Shattered
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Tall Arete Barn Yard
 4
V2- 5+ Boulder
A-Frame Barn Yard
 5
V2 5+ Boulder
Big Blobs of Love Mentmore > Original Side > (04) Benny Silva Wall
 31
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport, TR
Ego Terrorists Mentmore > New Side > (04) The Balcony
 17
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
May Cause Health Problems Mentmore > Original Side > (05) Health Wall
 21
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Inner Sanctum Mentmore > Original Side > (05) Health Wall
 24
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport, TR
Hookymaster General Mentmore > Original Side > (03) Bivi Wall/Swallo…
 23
5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b Sport, TR
Cameron's Coming Mentmore > New Side > (02) The Corridor
 17
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Flakes Don't Fail Me Now Mentmore > New Side > (03) Wall of Dreams
 26
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Muy Enfermo Mentmore > Original Side > (03) Bivi Wall/Swallo…
 12
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport, TR
Not Suitable for Pregnant W… Mentmore > Original Side > (05) Health Wall
 31
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Sink or Swim Mentmore > New Side > (03) Wall of Dreams
 6
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Sport
Smegma Deluxe Mentmore > Original Side > (05) Health Wall
 6
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Docile Dragon Mentmore > New Side > (02) The Corridor
 5
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Shattered Mentmore > New Side > Monolith
 4
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
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