New Mexico · Rock climbing · Sandia Park

(08) The Far Side I

10 routes in New Mexico ranging from moderate to hard, sport and trad.

10 routes

5.9 – 5.13a

Sport · Trad

Is (08) The Far Side I open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sandia Ranger District. It doesn't name (08) The Far Side I, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

Area Closure for Recreation Residence Structures and Property at 91 Casa Loma Road
Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-14 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District
Area Closure for Recreation Residence Structures and Property at 69 Casa Loma Road
Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-13 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District
Area Closure for Sandia Crest “Switchback” Hazard Tree and Fuel Reduction Project
Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-02 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District
Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts Stage 1 Fire Restriction Lifted
Agency alert covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-00-26-20 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District
Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts Stage 1 Fire Restriction Order 03-03-00-26-05
Agency alert covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-00-26-05 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

As of Oct 25, 7:20 pm MDT · Source: USFS · Sandia Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit (08) The Far Side I

Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

Jan
44° / 19°
Feb
48° / 22°
Mar
55° / 26°
Apr
63° / 34°
May
73° / 41°
Jun
83° / 49°
Jul
83° / 53°
Aug
80° / 52°
Sep
77° / 46°
Oct
65° / 36°
Nov
54° / 24°
Dec
43° / 18°

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sandia Park, NM, 2.8 mi away at 7,030 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Far Side I is a climbing area in the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of other climbing areas, with The Dihedral Wall, Randy's Wall and The Transition Zone all about 0.1 mile away. The area has 10 routes, with sport climbing making up most of them. The grades run from 5.9 to 5.13a, and two of the routes are trad. Serpentine is a 5.11b sport route with a first ascent by Bernard Moret and Krister Swenson, and Dreamer Deceiver is a 5.13a sport route with a first ascent by Chris Grijalva and Paul May. For timing, the most comfortable months are typically May and September, when typical averages from the Sandia Park weather station run from highs around 73°F to 77°F. That station sits about 1,600 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures up high run cooler. Hikers can find the Las Huertas Pg Loop about 0.4 mile away and the Palomas Peak Trail (66) about 0.6 mile away.