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Sandia Mountains Rock Climbing
| Elevation: | 10,650 ft | 3,246 m |
| GPS: |
35.2106, -106.44996 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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| Page Views: | 783,037 total · 3,215/month | |
| Shared By: | Anthony Stout on Jan 20, 2006 · Updates | |
| Admins: | Jason Halladay, Mike Hoskins, Anna Brown |
Description
The Sandia Mountains top out at 10,650ft and most of the climbs involve a drive to the top of the mountain and a hike down to your climb. This means a hike up/out at the end of the day.
The mountain is comprised of roughly 1.5 billion year old granite with a 300 million year old limestone band on top.
Because of longer approaches to the climbing areas, you'll typically find solitude while climbing in the Sandias. Due to high elevation and the alpine nature of these mountains, weather conditions are always changing. While one can climb any time of the year (there is snow all winter through May at the top), Sandia season seems to be May through October. West and Southwest facing walls, such as Muralla Grande, can be warm and dry even on winter days. Lots of the west facing formations get sun starting about 11:30am in the summer.
IMPORTANT: Watch for thunderstorms during the summer months and make sure you always have warm and rain layers. Temperatures and weather can change very quickly on the mountain and the granite becomes slippery when wet.
Getting There
The majority of the climbs are accessed from the top of the mountain (aka the Sandia Crest) via a road that travels up the east side. Some routes are approached from the bottom of the mountain (aka the foothills of Albuquerque) and these directions will be give in the appropriate sections.
Driving directions to the top of the mountain:
- Starting from Albuquerque, take I-40 east through Tijeras Canyon, exiting on the Tijeras exit (exit 175).
- North on highway 14 for 6.8 miles
- Turn left on NM 536 (follow signs to Sandia Mountain Ski area), and follow this road for about 14 miles, past the ski area, and finally to the Sandia Crest.
About getting to the different climbing areas:
- Approach times and difficulties vary depending on where you are going. Directions will be given in the appropriate sections.
- WARNING: Approaches can be DIFFICULT, as in both strenuous and difficult to find. It's common to get lost in the Sandia. Should anyone following directions posted on Mountain Project end up lost, please edit the routes/area's directions in order to make them more accurate is appreciated.
*** Reporting Bad Hardware In The Sandia Mountians
The best way to report bad hardware (anchors or protection) is to post a comment on the route page here on MountainProject.com. When reporting your issue, please provide as much detail as possible.
Additionally, you can send a direct message with photos/video to one of the Mountain project NM Admins who will work to coordinate with active climbing stewards in New Mexico.
Sandia Wilderness Route Development Guidelines
New Mexico Climber's Resource and Advocacy Group (NM CRAG) Route Development Guidelines
NM CRAG advocates and encourages climbers to abide by the following fixed anchor guidelines when establishing new routes in the Sandia Mountain Wilderness:
- NM CRAG acknowledges and supports the existing laws that ban the use of motorized drills in Wilderness.
- Minimize your impact by staying on existing trails when possible; do not build new trails without Forest Service approval.
New climbing routes requiring fixed anchors should be evaluated based on:
- Rock quality, aesthetic position, environmental impact, natural terrain features, potential appeal to present and future climbers, the effect on other user groups, and the number of existing routes in the vicinity.
- Ask yourself and others if your potential route is a worthy addition to the area before adding fixed anchors.
- New routes requiring fixed anchors should not crowd existing climbs. Fixed anchors should not be used when reliable options for removable protection exist.
- Fixed protection may be appropriate to prevent the risk of ground fall, hitting dangerous obstacles or factor two falls. Climbers should bear the responsibility for determining when to place safety anchors and how to use these tools.
- Fixed anchors may be appropriate when used for rappel stations to reduce excessive trails and damage to fragile cliff-top environments. All fixed protection should be camouflaged to blend in with natural terrain.
- Bolt intensive climbs are not appropriate in Wilderness. Sections of fixed protection may be required to link natural features containing possibilities for protection with removable gear.
Guide Books
- Sandia Rock by Mick Schein (2013, Sharp End Publishing)
- Rock Climbing New Mexico by Dennis R. Jackson (2006, Falcon Press)
- Hikers and Climbers Guide to the Sandias by Mike Hill (1993, Coyote Books) * important historical area information
Classic Climbing Routes at Sandia Mountains
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