Los Alamos and White Rock Area

Description 

With the amount of climbing right around Los Alamos and White Rock, one would wonder why the locals would ever have to leave! From traditional basalt crags to steep or technical sport climbing, a nice diversity exists around these two towns.

Getting There 

There are two different ways to get to the Las Alamos and White rock areas, one through the Jemez mountains (Highway 4) and the other by taking I-25 toward Santa Fe. The second is the most common and the quickest from either Albuquerque or Santa Fe.

From I-25, head either north or south toward Santa Fe (depending on where you are coming from), and get onto highway 285/84 toward Pojoaque. From Pojoaque head west on highway 502. Highway 502 will take you to Los Alamos or White Rock. Follow directions to specific areas from here.

Camping in the Area 

The best developed campground in the area is the Juniper Campground of Bandelier National Monument. It has all the amenities, and is very convenient especially to White Rock.
http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/juniper-family-campgro>>>>>

Free undeveloped camping can be found west of Los Alamos and Bandelier in the Jemez. Good places to look are on the dirt roads that head north from NM-4 as you're going west from Los Alamos before you get to the Valles Caldera; and off the road to the Pajarito Ski Hill. Don't camp on National Lab property or in Bandelier Monument (except in the campground); these areas are well-marked.

Looking for a Partner? 

If you're in the area for a short time, and don't know anyone.. there are a couple options if you want to do some climbing but don't want to commit to a plan.

An informal toproping group loosely affiliated with the Los Alamos Mountaineers heads to a different White Rock crag and shares anchors and ropes- every Tuesday and Thursday around 5 pm from March to October. Visiting climbers and non-Mountaineering-club-members are welcome to join in. By sharing toprope anchors and ropes, you can get a lot of climbs in before dark. Just show up. The schedule is posted online here:
http://www.lamountaineers.org/index.html

The Dungeon: there are almost always people climbing here on workday evenings, getting a workout on the 5.12s on the Main Wall. Climbers here are friendly and almost always happy to offer a belay to anyone with a good attitude. If you're a visiting 5.11 (or harder) sport climber, this is probably your best option.

Featured Route For Los Alamos and White Rock Area

(10) Flesh-Eating Gnats 5.11b  NM : Los Alamos and White Rock Area : White Rock Crags

Amazing arete with possible moves on either side using pockets and small ledges. At the beginning, bypass the undercut roof to the left (easy) or the right (harder- perhaps with hard moves before you clip the 1st bolt). Up high, the rock becomes less featured and steeper, but only a few moves are needed to get through this part, and the chalked holds may provide clues as to what to go for.Why's it called Flesh-Eating Gnats ?? Climb he...[more]