The Big Enchilada hosts some of the longer trad routes in White Rock. A few partially bolted face climbs exist too. Although there are some fixed anchors (atop the bolted routes), these can't be reached from above, so bringing trad gear and static rope to set anchors is a necessity.
The cliff has two aspects: one facing east, and one facing southwest; which is convenient to seek out shade or sun as desired.
The rock is generally of high quality basalt, although the cliffs have a few ledges making many of the routes not as sustained as trad routes at The Playground or the Old New Place. Some climbs in this area are among the finest crack climbs in White Rock.
You're unlikely to encounter crowds or other climbers at this area, as compared to more crowded White Rock cliffs.
A list of routes, with descriptions and ratings (but no photos) is found here: http://www.lamountaineers.org/LAAOLRG/big_enchilada.htm The area is also described in the Rock Climbing: New Mexico and Jemez Rock guidebooks.
Getting There
Take NM state road 4 just south of White Rock, turn onto Monterey South. Stay on Monterey South, to Potrillo Rd, where you take a right. Take this until you can turn right on Estante Rd. Follow Estante around a left turn to a pullout just past a fire hydrant on the right side. Park here and don't block the hydrant or the mailboxes. This is the same parking for Potrillo Cliffs. Walk the trail south 100yds, where it forks, take the trail heading left (east). Follow this 10 minutes to the trails end at the point of the cliffs, where the cliff bands of Potrillo Canyon and the Rio grande Gorge meet... here is the Big Enchilada. Scramble down an obvious gully on the east side to reach the cliff base. The East Face of the Big Enchilada is just to the north of the descent gully; the West face is just south and around the corner.
Big Enchilada, The
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