Cañon Del Agua Rock Climbing

Approach from the crest. Take the crest trail north, past North Sandia Peak. Just before the Del Agua Overlook, cut left into the aspens and drop below the crest (there is a good spot to do this a few hundred ft before the overlook: 35.23730, -106.44982). Avoid the temptation to traverse right towards the visible rock—this will lead to cruxy downclimbing through the limestone bands and worse bushwhacking. Instead, traverse left and slightly down through the aspens, following good game trails, for about 1000ft until you get to a faint gully (at 35.23752, -106.45367). Follow this gully straight down as it becomes more prominent and rockier. Soon, you will get to a little 15ft downclimb through a granite cliff band, which is easily tackled head on or on either side. Shortly after this, you will see a nice granite cliff show up on your right. When this cliff curves away to the right and you have the opportunity to leave the gully and start bushwhacking to the right, do so. Exit the gully and traverse right, staying at roughly the same elevation, as you fight your way through the dense vegetation towards the bigger cliffs on your right. This part has the worst bushwhacking, although it is over fast. Del Agua Spire is an obvious landmark to aim for.

Allow 1.25+ hours to reach Del Agua Spire from the crest. The climbing area map for this area has a GPS track of the approach.