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Muralla Grande
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Routes Sorted
L to R R to L Alpha
Clarks Cramps 
Dire Straights 
Excitable Boys 
La Selva 
Lawyers, Guns & Money 
Liar King 
Little Yellow Jacket 
Out to Lunch 
Rapture 
Second Coming, The 
Thunderbird 
Warpy Moople 

Muralla Grande 


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Lat, Long: 35.2152, -106.455 Map
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Administrators: Aaron Hobson, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: Anthony Stout on Jan 22, 2006

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Photo of Muralla Grande from the Sentinal.

Description 

This massive cliff face, easily seen from the city of Albuquerque, stands just beneath the communcations towers in upper Chimney Canyon. The rock wall boasts many long, quality routes.


Getting There 

At the North End of the crest parking lot, locate a prominent trail that skirts just around the fence. Follow it, as it slowly winds you down toward the limestone band near the top of the crest. This prominent trail continues along the limestone band for about 10 minutes or so, than you will come upon an intersection. Go left, heading towards hilltop of aspen, this is the summit of Muralla Grande.

As you are hiking on a nice trail you will come upon a trail junction in the aspen grove, there is a junction of two trails. The straight ahead or barely angling left (South/SE) branch goes down the correct approach gully (this appears less well traveled initially). The right branch (West/SW) goes to Muralla Grande summit (can take this one if you wish to leave anything at the summit where all the climbs end). DO NOT: Take the right branch (toward the summit), and ALSO forget to backtrack to the junction, or you WILL end up going down the looser gnarlier bushier gully instead.

Continue on the trail down the steep, rocky, chimney canyon (south, then west, or just DOWN), and you will see The Chimney to your left, and the rising face of Muralla Grande on your right. The Second Coming is directly on the South Face (and is in the sun for a good part of the day in fall and winter). Other climbs are on the main southwest face (continue down and around the formation).


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Muralla Grande:
The Second Coming   5.8     Trad, Alpine, 4 pitches, Grade II   
La Selva   5.8     Trad, Alpine, 5 pitches, 800 feet, Grade III   
Warpy Moople   5.9 R     Trad, Alpine, 7 pitches, 800 feet, Grade III   
Lawyers, Guns & Money   5.9     Trad, Alpine, 1 pitch, 140 feet   
Excitable Boys   5.9+     Trad, Alpine, 7 pitches, 700 feet, Grade III   
Out to Lunch   5.10b PG13     Trad, Alpine, 7 pitches, 800 feet, Grade III   
Little Yellow Jacket   5.11a     Trad, Alpine, 5 pitches, 580 feet, Grade III   
Rapture   5.11b PG13     Trad, Alpine, 3 pitches, 600 feet, Grade III   
Thunderbird   5.12-     Trad, Alpine, 6 pitches, 600 feet, Grade III   
Browse More Classics in Muralla Grande

Featured Route For Muralla Grande
Tamara leading the 5.9 crack on p4.  The 5.9 variation heads straight up from the belay.  The 5.10 variation can be seen on left edge of the photo.

The Second Coming 5.8  NM : Sandia Mountains : ... : Muralla Grande
Four pitches, the final of which is the makes this one such a beauty. However, the star rating of the route really depends on which way you decide to go on the headwall at the top. There are four choices for the final pitch (5.10d, 5.10a, 5.9, and 5.8).Getting There: Follow directions to Muralla Grande. Soon after you get to the bottom of the couloir of death talus and rocks, begin looking to your right. You will eventually come upon an alcove beneath a large headwall (the headwall is high up on...[more]   Browse More Classics in NM


Photos of Muralla Grande Slideshow Add Photo
Beginning of the third pitch... watching the weather creep in!

Beginning of the third pitch... watching the weath...


Comments on Muralla Grande Add Comment
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By George Perkins
From: Los Alamos, NM
Sep 10, 2007

More than one friend of mine has had trouble finding the correct approach gully. It is really not that bad or confusing compared to others in the Sandias. Here is the deal:

When you get to the aspen grove you are heading south on a good trail. In the aspen grove, there is a junction of two trails. The straight ahead or barely angling left (South/SE) branch goes down the correct approach gully (this appears less well traveled initially). The right branch (West/SW) goes to Muralla Grande summit. DO NOT: Take the right branch (toward the summit), and ALSO forget to backtrack to the junction, or you WILL end up going down the looser gnarlier bushier gully instead.

PS In the above photo, that is the evil gully. the kind gully is to the right (toward the radio towers)

By Anthony Stout
Administrator
From: Albuquerque, NM
Sep 11, 2007

Thanks George for that clarification. I added your comments to the "getting there" section above. Please let me know if you have any more comments!

Tony

By Christopher Marks
From: okc
Nov 28, 2007

What is the bolted line to the left of Second Coming? Looked like new bolts and at least 2-3 bolted belays?

By Anthony Stout
Administrator
From: Albuquerque, NM
Nov 28, 2007

It is called Rapture, although I don't know much more about it than its name.