La Mesilla Climbing

The La Mesilla boulders are located along a 2 mile stretch of mesa edge on the Caja del Rio volcanic plateau, about 10 miles from Santa Fe. While the nearby Diablo Canyon features towering sport climbs, the slot canyons and mesa edge at la Mesilla features a thinner cross-section of that same basalt flow. The thinner, highly fractured basalt at La Mesilla lends itself to many shear blocks that jumbled together in the slot canyons and along the toe of the mesa.

Explored and developed by local Santa Feans in summer of 2017, it is a wonder that the secret blocks of La Mesilla sat untouched for so long. While the area as a whole is spread out over a 2 mile stretch of mesa rim, and thus isn't conducive to seeing ALL of the classic climbs in a single day/session, climbers should not let that deter them from visiting this area.  With short approaches and relatively good concentration of  boulders in the separate sectors, in addition to amazing rock quality and character, La Mesilla is a great addition to the local climber's circuit and traveling climber's destination list.

La Mesilla is climbable year round, thanks to ample shade pockets created by the jumbled boulders and steep slot canyons. Of course, fall and winter are best for sending temperatures. While short in terms of distance, some of the approaches require lots of boulder hopping and some very loose sandy sections, which should improve as trails are solidified. Some cairns might be around to help navigate some of the trickier sections.