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La Cueva Canyon (Upper) Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in La Cueva Canyon (Upper)

Andy Boy Wall 5 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Chaos Crag 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

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

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

Estrellita 5 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

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

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

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

Hole in the Wall 17 / 6 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Science Friction 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4

Slot, The 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5

Thumb, The 9 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10

Torreon 8 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 8

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

Tridents 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4

Windward Wall 6 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 7

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

Explore this area in 3D

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	9,349 ft	2,850 m
GPS:	35.2063, -106.452 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	214,649 total · 868/month
Shared By:	Anthony Stout on Jan 22, 2006
Admins:	Jason Halladay, Mike Hoskins, Anna Brown Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: SANDIA CREST CLOSURE ALERT - Beginning APRIL 30, 2026, 140 acres at the top of the Sandia Mountains is under a closure order. Details

Beginning APRIL 30, 2026, 140 acres at the top of the Sandia Mountains will be under a closure order so the Forest Service can complete two different projects. The first project is an extensive "fuel reduction project" and the second is the demolition/remodeling of the whole upper parking lot and crest house. The Crest Road and all parking areas above the 10k parking lot will be closed in addition to the 140 acres of forest that will be under going the fuel reduction work. The closure will be enforced from April 30, 2026, at 6 a.m. through January 15, 2027, at 6 a.m., unless rescinded. You can find the official area closure order 03-03-05-26-02 on the forest website, where it describes the parking areas and trails that the agency will close at: fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola/alerts. For more information visit fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola/news… or contact the Sandia Ranger District Office at 505-281-3304.

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.

119 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	La Cueva Canyon (Upper) Change
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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 123 ● Northwest Ridge Trad 6 pitches Thumb
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 160 ● Estrellita Trad Estrellita
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 62 ● Beat Around the Bush Trad Estrellita
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 73 ● Aviary Ort Overhangs Trad 3 pitches Thumb
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 65 ● Estrellada (a.k.a. Mountain Momma) Trad 6 pitches Torreon
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 15 ● Dr Jeckle Trad 2 pitches Hole in the Wall
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 14 ● Shine On Trad Slot
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c PG13 10 ● Sorcerer's Apprentice Trad 2 pitches Torreon
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c 19 ● Good Clean Fun Sport 2 pitches Windward Wall
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 13 ● Another Pair of New Shoes Trad Hole in the Wall
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 9 ● Global Warming Trad Slot
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a 8 ● Storm Warning Trad 2 pitches Windward Wall
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 10 ● Wizard of Air Trad 7 pitches Torreon
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 12 ● Voodoo Child Trad 6 pitches Torreon
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b PG13 5 ● The Sorcerer Trad 4 pitches Torreon