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New Mexico · Rock Climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico is a small Black Range foothill town that most people drive through on the way to Kingston — but the rock climbing at Percha Creek is reason enough to stop.
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View on mapRock Climbing · 24 spots
Hillsboro, New Mexico is a small Black Range foothill town that most people drive through on the way to Kingston — but the rock climbing at Percha Creek is reason enough to stop. The crag sits along the creek drainage and offers 24 routes that lean toward the creative and the quirky, judging by names like Three Billy Goats Gruff, Burning the Candle at Both Ends, and Hillsboro Hooker. Several routes — Wade For Me and Worth the Wade among them — hint at creek crossings that are part of the approach, so water levels matter here more than at a typical roadside crag. The climbing itself covers a range of styles: crack lines like Edmund's Crack and Nutcracker sit alongside face and dihedral routes, giving both gear-oriented trad climbers and sport climbers something to work with. The Black Range gets genuinely hot in summer and can see afternoon thunderstorms from July through September, so this is a crag that rewards early starts and shoulder-season visits. If you're already planning a trip to the Silver City or Truth or Consequences corridor, Percha Creek at Hillsboro is a low-key, uncrowded stop worth building a day around.
The climbing is at Percha Creek, just outside Hillsboro. Several route names — Wade For Me and Worth the Wade in particular — suggest the approach involves crossing or wading the creek, so be prepared to get your feet wet depending on the season and recent rainfall.
With 24 listed routes ranging from straightforward lines like Patience and Just Your Style to more committing crack climbs like Edmund's Crack and Nutcracker, the area has options for intermediate climbers and up. Beginners would benefit from coming with an experienced partner rather than treating this as a first-ever outdoor climbing destination.
Shave and a Cut
A worthwhile stop near New Mexico.
Percha Creek, Hillsboro
Remote creek-side climbing near Hillsboro in southern New Mexico.
Rolling Stones Gather no Mas
A worthwhile stop near New Mexico.
Main Wall
~37 min drive
Versatile New Mexico crag with routes for climbers of all levels.
Dihedral
A worthwhile stop near New Mexico.
Gotham City
~37 min drive
New Mexico crag with varied climbing and a unique character.
Nutcracker
A worthwhile stop near New Mexico.
New Beginnings Wall
~37 min drive
Beginner-friendly New Mexico crag with approachable climbing and solid rock.
Pepe's School of Beauty
A worthwhile stop near New Mexico.
Bat Cave
~37 min drive
New Mexico sport and trad climbing area with routes for intermediate climbers.
Just your style
A worthwhile stop near New Mexico.
Edmund's crack
A worthwhile stop near New Mexico.
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Rock climbing
Hillsboro, New Mexico
The presence of named crack routes like Edmund's Crack and Nutcracker suggests a trad rack is useful here, at minimum a set of nuts and cams. Bring approach shoes or sandals you don't mind getting wet if the creek is running, and check water levels before you go if you're visiting after spring snowmelt or summer monsoon rain.
Spring (March through May) and fall (October through November) are the most reliable windows. Summer temperatures in the Black Range foothills can push well above 90°F by midday, and the monsoon season from roughly July through mid-September brings frequent afternoon lightning — both good reasons to be off the rock by noon if you visit in summer. Winter days can be climbable when skies are clear, but morning shade may keep the rock cold.
Hillsboro is a small historic mining town with a handful of shops and a cafe, so it's easy to pair a half-day at the crag with a look around town. Kingston, a few miles up NM-152 into the Black Range, is another option for extending the day, and the drive itself along the Black Range Scenic Byway is worth the time.