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Elevation: 6,148 ft 1,874 m
GPS: 35.7891, -106.2107
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Chris Wenker on Mar 2, 2008
Admins: Jason Halladay, Mike Hoskins, Anna Brown

Description Suggest change

The Big Enchilada hosts some of the longer trad routes in White Rock. A few partially bolted face climbs exist too. Although there are some fixed anchors, bringing trad gear and static rope to set anchors is a necessity for most climbs.

The cliff has two aspects: one facing east, and one facing southwest; which is convenient to seek out shade or sun as desired.

The rock is generally of high quality basalt, although the cliffs have a few ledges making many of the routes not as sustained as trad routes at The Playground or the Old New Place. Some climbs in this area are among the finest crack climbs in White Rock.

You're unlikely to encounter crowds or other climbers at this area, as compared to more crowded White Rock cliffs.

A list of routes, with descriptions and ratings (but no photos) is found here:
lamountaineers.org/LAAOLRG/…
The area is also described in the Rock Climbing: New Mexico and Jemez Rock guidebooks.

Getting There Suggest change

Take NM state road 4 just south of White Rock, turn onto Monterey South. Stay on Monterey South, to Potrillo Rd, where you take a right. Take this until you can turn right on Estante Rd. Follow Estante around a left turn to a pullout just past a fire hydrant on the right side. Park here and don't block the hydrant or the mailboxes. This is the same parking for Potrillo Cliffs. Walk the trail south 100yds, where it forks, take the trail heading left (east). Follow this 10 minutes to the trails end at the point of the cliffs, where the cliff bands of Potrillo Canyon and the Rio grande Gorge meet: here is the Big Enchilada. Scramble down an obvious gully on the east side to reach the cliff base.
The East Face of the Big Enchilada is just to the north of the descent gully; the West face is just south and around the corner.

38 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Big Enchilada, The Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Big Enchilada, The

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 13
Black and Tan
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 15
Route 18
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 14
Headjam
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 10
Chimney
Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 11
Route 15
Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 17
The Big Enchilada (Left Crack)
Trad, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 5
Route 5
Trad, TR
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 17
Route 5
Trad, TR
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 25
Route 17
Trad, TR
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 10
The Big Enchilada
Trad, TR
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 10
Route 22
Trad, TR
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 6
Big Jalapena
Sport, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Black and Tan E Side, Big Enchilada
 13
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Route 18 S Side, Big Enchilada
 15
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Headjam S Side, Big Enchilada
 14
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Chimney E Side, Big Enchilada
 10
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, TR
Route 15 S Side, Big Enchilada
 11
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, TR
The Big Enchilada (Left Crack) E Side, Big Enchilada
 17
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, TR
Route 5 S Side, Big Enchilada
 5
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR
Route 5 E Side, Big Enchilada
 17
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR
Route 17 S Side, Big Enchilada
 25
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, TR
The Big Enchilada E Side, Big Enchilada
 10
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad, TR
Route 22 S Side, Big Enchilada
 10
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad, TR
Big Jalapena E Side, Big Enchilada
 6
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport, TR
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