New Mexico · Rock climbing · El Rito

Big Pine Wall

Big Pine Wall is a New Mexico climbing crag with 9 sport routes across 5 grades.

9 routes
5.10a – 5.12a
Sport

Is Big Pine Wall open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Carson National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Carson National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Big Pine Wall

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.

  1. Jan

    41° / 18°

    5 wet

  2. Feb

    46° / 21°

    4 wet

  3. Mar

    54° / 26°

    4 wet

  4. Apr

    63° / 32°

    4 wet

  5. May

    72° / 40°

    5 wet

  6. Jun

    81° / 47°

    5 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 54°

    9 wet

  8. Aug

    82° / 53°

    10 wet

  9. Sep

    76° / 46°

    6 wet

  10. Oct

    65° / 36°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    51° / 25°

    4 wet

  12. Dec

    41° / 19°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at El Rito, NM, 3.2 mi away at 6,870 ft. The station sits about 700 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.

Big Pine Wall is a climbing area in the El Rito Ranger District of Carson National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, with Schoolhouse Slab, Beer Block and Pirate's Wall all about 0.1 mile away. The area is a sport climbing destination, with nine routes spread across a range of grades from 5.10a to 5.12a. Apple Cobbler and The Thimble (aka El Dorito) are both 5.10a, and Pocket Rocket is the hardest at 5.12a. Corn on the Cobble is 5.11b. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the sweet spots. Typical averages from the El Rito weather station, about 3 miles away, show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 76°F, with July and August bringing the most wet days. El Rito campground is about 3 miles away, and the Cdt - New Mexico Section and Cerro Negro Loop hikes are both within about 9 miles.

Routes (9)