PRINT: Rock Climbing in The Dungeon, Los Alamos & White Rock

The Dungeon

New Mexico > Los Alamos & White Rock

Description

Home to primo, rhyolite sport climbing. Some of the best steep routes in New Mexico. The area has over 30 sport routes, though around 23 of them are 5.12 and up. There are around 13 below 5.12.

In contrast to White Rock, this area is a nice summer area. The Main Wall is shaded all day, and can even be climbed during rain storms.

Getting There

Drive into Los Alamos via Highway 502 (Main Hill Rd.). After passing the airport, continue on Trinity Boulevard to Diamond Dr. (hospital's on the left). Turn left (south) onto Diamond Dr., soon after which you will drive over a large bridge. (Folks who have not been in the area for a few years will notice a few changes to the roadway at this point as Los Alamos National Laboratory thought it was necessary to drastically alter the natural flow of traffic to make room for a large security perimeter guard station; don't worry, you do not need a badge or ID to get through.) Turn right at the first light. Pass through a guard station, continue up West Jemez Rd. for approximately 2 miles, passing the turn-off for the Pajarito Ski Resort (Camp May Rd.). About 0.5 miles past Camp May Rd., look for a pull-out and parking lot on the right, which is at the trailhead for the Dungeon; turn in and park here. (GPS: Lon: -106.35262; Lat: 35.86575).

Walk North from the parking area, passing a large metal erosion control contraption and follow the trail for about 1/2 mile until you come onto the Main Wall (it's big and overhanging, it will be obvious).

Note: There is an alternative means of accessing the Dungeon, which bypasses the LANL "Security Perimeter" guard station. Vehicles and people entering LANL are subject to being searched. After turning left (south) onto Diamond Dr., immediately get in the right-hand lane and turn right at the traffic light onto West Rd. just before the bridge. Follow West Rd. down into the canyon, passing an ice rink on your left. Continue up this road, back out of the canyon, passing the turn-off for the Pajarito Ski Hill (Camp May Rd.) on your right. Shortly after Camp May Rd., you will merge with West Jemez Rd., but will have bypassed all of the LANL "security" area. About 0.5 miles after merging with W. Jemez, look for a pull-out and parking lot on the right, which is at the trailhead for the Dungeon; turn in and park here.

(More thorough directions provided thanks to Jason Hundhausen.)

Guidebooks

"Jemez Rock" guide by Marc Beverly
Jackson's "Rock Climbing: New Mexico"

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Jenna Lupia cruising through the bottom of Meltdown

Happiness for a kid: A 40 foot tall swing set. Nov. 1, 2008.

This weekend saw flooding and serious erosion in Pajarito Canyon and through the Dungeon climbing area. Many routes got a bit longer by a few feet and there's now exposed bedrock in the stream chan…

A busy night at the Dungeon main wall. Allison (with helmet) on [[105847851]], Casey (in red) on [[106233567]] and Sam on [[105848541]].

A busy night at the Dungeon main wall. Allison (with helmet) on Against Nature (aka Peter's Route), Casey (in red) on Gangland and Sam on Moat Jump.

Approach trail to the Dungeon shortly after it reopened, post Las Conchas fire

Main Wall of The Dungeon, Los Alamos NM

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Owen S

I believe the rock is diacite, not rhyolite. For what it matters... May 5, 2012

Jason Halladay
Los Alamos, NM

If you've been to the Dungeon recently you probably noticed the new trail from the parking area to the climbing area (and beyond!) I enjoyed working with many local volunteers this summer reconstructing the trail. Big kudos to the YMCA YES Corps, laymca.org/yes.shtml Girl Scout Troop 10026, girlscouts.org/ YMCA Youth Conservation Corps laymca.org/ycc.shtml and a handful of other, local individual volunteers.

And there's now a nice footbridge (dubbed "Chihuahua Bridge" for the first thing to cross the bridge after it was constructed) instead of the balancy log. [Edit - The bridge washed out a couple years later in a major rainstorm flood.]

Sep 10, 2012

Jason Halladay
Los Alamos, NM

George Perkins wrote:Bruno, I know who put it there, as does everyone else in LA who climbs at the Dungeon regularly. His intent wasn't to piss people off (though it certainly did to a few people). There haven't been very many positive opinions about that draw, but no one really wanted to make a big deal of it or cause any hard feelings. Anyway, the person who put it there has said he intends to remove it at the end of the season. Of course, if you want to take it down or move it first, no one's stopping you.

Contrary to George's opinion, I don't know anyone that has gotten upset or pissed off about the fixed draw on Moat Jump. Even the one climber I thought might take offense to it (Peter) has only joked about taking down but, obviously, hasn't done so. The feeling I get is that most are quite indifferent about it being there. I've gotten used to stick-clipping the draw and now appreciate it being there even though it isn't the crux or a difficult clip. Admittedly, I moved it down a bolt when I first saw it as I didn't know who put it there, didn't understand why it was there and thought Peter wouldn't care for it being in place.

I haven't been on Loose Cannon so I cant't comment on the need for a fixed draw. Sep 14, 2012

J. Albers
Colorado

IMHO, that fixed draw should come down. There is absolutely no good reason for it, and given the recent situation at Crystal, it is incumbent upon the locals to act proactively to protect access. I'm not "angry" about the fixed draw, but if it had appeared in the half decade of time when I was a local, it would not have stayed up (I would of course made sure it made itself back to its owner). Sep 14, 2012

J. Albers
Colorado

Bruno,

No, I'm not going to quit commenting on issues related to NM climbing. I know that this bothers you and your wife, but too bad (and no, threatening, anonymous emails from her did not "frighten" me away last time, so don't bother trying again).

I know where the cruxes are on MJ, so you don't need to lecture me. I also know that you can rodeo clip both the first and second draws (or stick clip them if you like) because I have done so for countless folks who needed them pre-clipped. When I lived in NM, I cared enough about the Dungeon to build the first iteration of the belay platform below Crimp Chimp after the Cerro Grande fire (with help from Clay Clark IIRC) and I cared enough to help with hardware upgrades, so just because I moved away doesn't mean I have to quit caring about what happens to the place now. Just because you live there currently, it doesn't give you the only say on how the place gets treated. Does my voice perhaps count less than the current locals? Sure. But as a community, we all have a stake in protecting access and making sure the place gets treated with respect.

Have a good day.

EDIT: To Bruno and Tonto - I'll tell you what, I will quit making assumptions about who you are if you start posting with your real names (or something that at least identifies you to the community). Sep 14, 2012

Shibli Fazal

Kudos rock climbers! I overheard someone suggesting they would perma-draw the whole place if anyone wants to take him or her up on that offer. Goodbye. Feb 27, 2013

Omar Little

Someone brushed my very well thought out ticks off of Meltdown, Moat Jump and the roof of Loose Cannon in the past few days. That is NOT COOL! I spent a lot of time and chalk ticking every hand and foot I was thinking about using. Please be considerate of other climbers. Sep 8, 2014