New Mexico · Rock climbing · Las Cruces

Cactararium

Cactararium is a New Mexico climbing area with 9 routes.

Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

9 routes

V1 – V7

Bouldering

Best time to visit Cactararium

Best months: March–May and 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
56° / 23°
3 wet
Feb
62° / 26°
2 wet
Mar
69° / 32°
1 wet
Apr
77° / 39°
1 wet
May
85° / 47°
3 wet
Jun
95° / 59°
3 wet
Jul
94° / 66°
9 wet
Aug
91° / 64°
9 wet
Sep
86° / 56°
5 wet
Oct
77° / 42°
3 wet
Nov
66° / 31°
3 wet
Dec
55° / 23°
4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Las Cruces 20 N, NM, 20.2 mi away at 4,327 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.

Cactararium is a bouldering area in the Organ Mountains Wilderness of southern New Mexico, on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management's Las Cruces District Office. It sits within the wilderness, about 20 miles from Las Cruces, and its name points to the cactus-studded terrain that surrounds it. The climbing here is all bouldering, with nine routes spread across the area. The grades run from V1 to V7, with the median at V3. Among the named routes are Completionist at V1, Kurnal Bingus at V4-, and Cactopode at V7. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Las Cruces show April and October highs around 77°F, while July and August average about 94°F and bring the most wet days of the year. That station sits roughly 1,600 feet lower than the boulders, so temperatures at the crag run cooler. Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground is just 0.2 miles away, and Aguirre Bouldering is 0.4 miles off. The Flounder and Snake Den are both within about half a mile.