The Snow Play Area Rock Climbing

It is an easy to moderate 30 minute hike through pine forest and overlooks of the canyon. Albuquerque to the Snow Play Area is 1hr 10min.

Parking is at the Capulin Snow Play parking lot. This paved parking area has covered picnic tables, bathrooms, and a fire pit at the top of one of the sled runs. Parking cost $5 or a Sandia pass.

From the Capulin Snow Play upper parking lot, follow the road past the gate to the sledding hills. On the far side of the last sledding hill is an information board and a mountain biking trail. Carefully follow the mountain biking trail for 1 minute until it forks with an unmarked, unmaintained trail (Old Capulin Trail). Take a right at the fork on the unmaintained trail, do not continue up the mountain bike trail with the obvious bank in it.

(Warning: During popular biking times it is safer to walk through the bottom of the sledding hill than on the mountain biking trail. See Map In Images. Once on the other side of the sledding hill you only need to walk on the biking trail for a few feet before arriving at the fork).

The unmaintained trail is easy to follow and continues north. In 10 minutes you will arrive at the first overlook of Las Huertas Canyon.

From the overlook continue uphill on the trail. It will head SW briefly, bringing you back into the pine forest, and then west up the canyon. The trail gets a little steeper and switchbacks will lead the trail to the old Last Huertas Trail. Also unmaintained, this trail is easy to follow and there is still a vertical trail sign at the junction.

Take Las Huertas Trail North NW. After a short valley the hike gets steeper for the last 15 minutes following a cross county skiing trail with blue blazes on the trees.

The cairn (in the photos) marks the hiking loop for the climbing areas. Gateway Wall is uphill to the left. The Low Blow Wall is to the right.

If you continue uphill you will see the last blue trail blaze, a wooden structure and the second overlook. Take a left keeping the cliff side in sight for about 50 feet. Drop down the short, but steep entry gully and you have arrived!

As you descend the gully you will encounter the 3 sub groups of the Snow Play Area. The Gateway Wall is to the west.  The Slippery Slope Trail is in the middle and descends the canyon to The Low Blow Area to the East.