All Locations > New Mexico > Albuquerque Are… > Sandia Mountains

La Cueva Canyon, Upper Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in La Cueva Canyon, Upper

Andy Boy Wall 5 / 2 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 5

Chaos Crag 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 3

Donald Duck 4 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 4

El Paisano 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Estrellita 3 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 4

Fin, The 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Fire Hydrant 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Frog 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Hole in the Wall 13 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 18 / 18

Lost Spectacle 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Mexican Breakfast Formation 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Middle Way, The 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

My Secret Garden 20 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 20 / 20

Paired Pole Pillars 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Pulpit, The 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 3

Rat's Rock 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Science Friction 5 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 5

Slot, The 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 4

Thumb, The 8 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 9 / 9

Torreon 7 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 7 / 7

Trail Crag 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 2

Tridents 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1

Windward Wall 5 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 6 / 6

Yataghan 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 3

Elevation:	9,349 ft
GPS:	35.206, -106.452 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	83,236 total · 540/month
Shared By:	Anthony Stout on Jan 22, 2006
Admins:	Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB Brinckerhoff, Marta Reece, Drew Chojnowski

Access Issue: Seasonal raptor closure for some areas in the Sandias Details

The Sandias are subject to a yearly, seasonal raptor closure, March 1 - August 15
For details and up to date info visit: fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO…

fs.usda.gov/alerts/cibola/a…

Description

The La Luz trail, running from the foothills of the Sandias to the Sandia Crest, runs directly through this canyon. There is a high concentration of stellar routes on the rock within Upper LaCueva Canyon. Also, in comparison to many other routes within the Sandias, the approaches can be shorter and easier.

Getting There

Though the routes within this canyon can be accessed from the lower part of the canyon (Juan Tabo Picnic Area in the foothills of Albuquerque), it is much easier to access them from the Sandia Crest. The La Luz trail begins on the South end of the Sandia Crest parking lot.

106 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	La Cueva Canyon, Upper Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at La Cueva Canyon, Upper

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b 65 ● Northwest Ridge Trad, Alpine 6 pitches Thumb
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 30 ● The Cave Route Trad, Alpine 4 pitches Pulpit
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b 36 ● Beat Around the Bush Trad, Alpine Estrellita
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 87 ● Estrellita Trad, Alpine Estrellita
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 18 ● The Happy Gnome Trad, Alpine 6 pitches Yataghan
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 59 ● Miss Piggy Trad, Alpine 2 pitches Hole in the Wall
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 35 ● Aviary Ort Overhangs Trad, Alpine 3 pitches Thumb
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 42 ● Mountain Momma Trad, Alpine 6 pitches Torreon
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 11 ● Good Clean Fun Sport, Alpine 2 pitches Windward Wall
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 8 ● Shine On Trad, Alpine Slot
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c PG13 6 ● Sorcerer's Apprentice Trad, Alpine 2 pitches Torreon
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 5 ● Global Warming Trad, Alpine Slot
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 9 ● Voodoo Child Trad, Alpine 6 pitches Torreon
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 9 ● Wizard of Air Trad, Alpine 7 pitches Torreon
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b PG13 5 ● The Sorcerer Trad, Alpine 4 pitches Torreon