Elevation: 8,080 ft
GPS: 36.16, -105.585 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 32,159 total · 261/month
Shared By: Mike Howard on Nov 5, 2008
Admins: Mike Howard, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB Brinckerhoff, Marta Reece, Drew Chojnowski

Description

Beautiful high mountain setting in pristine canyon with bullet-hard rock. Moderate trad on the banks of a mountain stream (Water Wall), and a few fun bolted sport routes on the steep black and orange cliff band above (Fire Wall).

Getting There

Hwy 518 about 18 miles east of Taos. Look for FS Rd 22 just past Comales Campground at a turnout on the right. If you get to Sipapu, you missed it...

Great swimming a mile East on NM 518 at a pull out on the north of the road below a series of small waterfalls.

Food, gas, lodging and a nice disc golf course in Sipapu Ski Area a few miles further east on NM518. One of the most family friendly climbing areas in Taos county.

Guide book for the area is Jay Foley's "Taos Rock"

Local guide service www.climbtaos.com

45 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Comales Canyon

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 12
● Fun for the Whole Family
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 19
● In Descent
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 16
● Nicole's Corner
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 14
● E-Z Rider
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 19
● Kindling
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 23
● Prescribed Burn
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 18
● It Takes a Village to Raise a Route
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 12
● Shadow Caster
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 17
● The Egg
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 23
● Fire Walker
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 20
● Burnt
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 13
● Reignite
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 11
● Toast
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 21
● Family Man
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 6
● Hammer Time
Sport
Fire Wall & Upper Tier
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Fun for the Whole Family Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 12
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● In Descent Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 19
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Nicole's Corner Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 16
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
● E-Z Rider Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 14
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Kindling Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 19
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Prescribed Burn Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 23
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● It Takes a Village to Raise… Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 18
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Shadow Caster Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 12
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● The Egg Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 17
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Fire Walker Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 23
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Burnt Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 20
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Reignite Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 13
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
● Toast Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 11
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
● Family Man Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 21
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
● Hammer Time Fire Wall & Upper Tier
 6
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Comales Canyon »

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Comales entrance
Comales entrance
 0
Comales entrance
Comales entrance
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Climbing Magazine No 293 March 2011
Climbing Magazine No 293 March 2011
 0
firewall
firewall
 0
Dan going for FA on a new route left of Burnt on Fire Wall
Dan going for FA on a new route left of Burnt o…
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4 Comments

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Jay Foley
Jay Foley  
Several new sport routes on and left of fire wall. May 25, 2010
Paul Drakos
Paul Drakos  
Dennis Jackson's guidebook, Climbing in New Mexico, also covers Comales Canyon and has a nice sketch of the Water Wall.
The rock at Comales is the Ortega Quartzite, or an equivalent unit.
The new sport rounts on/left of the Fire Wall are decent routes that should improve with some more traffic. Jul 14, 2010
djkyote
djkyote  
A link to a recent rockfall accident, maybe an issue from recent rains:

mountainproject.com/v/rockf…

Also, I may have left a gray rainjacket there that day. If it is found, please PM me. Aug 9, 2013
tim naylor
tim naylor  
after cleaning a route here when the rock was wet, WAIT 24HRS FOR THE ROCK TO DRY AFTER A SOAKING RAIN! I cleaned off 10 pieces of rock on holds that had been tested recently. A flexy flake was moving about 80% more! steeper routes that stay drier are obviously better but be aware. Oct 24, 2015