All Locations > New Mexico > Santa Fe Area > Diablo Canyon

Solar Cave Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Solar Cave

L › R R › L A › Z

	Burnt Offering S 5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
	Clovis Hunter S 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	Cro-Magnon S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Devilution S 5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c
	Erectus aka Reserectus S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Evolution S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Hominid S 5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Hunter Gatherer S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	ILL (Ian and Lance Line) Route, The S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Intelligent Design S 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Lucy S 5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
	Mastodont S 5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
	Meanderthal S 5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
	Missing Link, The S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Native Rituals S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Natural Selection S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Neanderthal S 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	Neolithic S 5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
	Primordia S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Quest for Fire S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Sapien S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Solo Man (aka Homo Erectus Soloensis) S 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	Spearhead S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Struggle for Existence S 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Supraorbital Torus S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Survival of the Fittest S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Tribal Moves (aka Sacred Stone) S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Voyage of the Beagle S 5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Ötzi Dude S 5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

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:	5,906 ft	1,800 m
GPS:	35.8057, -106.14076 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	51,389 total · 213/month
Shared By:	Anthony Stout on Mar 6, 2006
Admins:	Shirtless Mike, Jason Halladay, Mike Hoskins, Anna Brown Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: Effective May 2025 - Climbing Fixed Hardware Authorization Process for BLM walls at Diablo Details

The BLM Taos Field Office implemented a Climbing Fixed Hardware Authorization Process for routes within its management area. The Diablo walls included in this plan are The Shack, Winter Wall, Sun Devil Wall, Solar Cave, Lake Street and Styx. The final document can be found online: shorturl.at/FYn4f

Access Issue: Access Issue for Areas in BLM Taos Field Office Lands Details

Per the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office's ( blm.gov/office/taos-field-o…) 2012 Taos Resource Management Plan (RMP) ( bit.ly/2Kab3HO), "Installation of new rock climbing routes or hardware will require pre-approval by the BLM." The RMP is the document that guides all the BLM management in a given field office. Climbers are asked to respect this guidance and not install new bolts or fixed hardware on Taos Field Office BLM land without pre-approval from the BLM. NM CRAG ( nmcrag.org/) is currently working with the BLM Taos Field Office to establish specific guidance for new route development in the district and they hope to have a formal process in the near future.

Description

Quote from random climber while working one of the routes in this area: "this is good choss!"

The routes here may look a little crumbly, but the rock is quite solid! Home of the most difficult climbs in Diablo, exciting and overhung routes will push you to the limit!

Getting There

Walk down to the arroyo and head straight as if going through the canyon between the cliffs. Before you enter between the cliff walls you will see a trail off to the right, heading up toward an obvious south facing area with overhanging rock on the north side of the canyon. The area is adjacent to Sun Devil on the same cliff band.

29 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location:	Solar Cave Change
Type:	to Trad Sport Toprope
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:	then:

Classic Climbing Routes at Solar Cave

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

5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 57 ● Lucy Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 60 ● Clovis Hunter Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 54 ● Solo Man (aka Homo Erectus Soloe… Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 8 ● Evolution Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 36 ● Sapien Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 33 ● Native Rituals Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 17 ● Tribal Moves (aka Sacred Stone) Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 17 ● Hunter Gatherer Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 10 ● Spearhead Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 22 ● Survival of the Fittest Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 15 ● Quest for Fire Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c 4 ● The Missing Link Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c 26 ● Mastodont Sport
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c 11 ● Devilution Sport
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a 9 ● Ötzi Dude Sport