New Mexico · Rock climbing · Tererro

Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock in New Mexico has 17 climbing routes across 12 grades.

17 routes
5.8+ – 5.13a
Sport · Trad · Bouldering

Is Cathedral Rock open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District.

  • Campground and Equestrian Area Closure for Field Tract and Jacks Creek

    Agency alert covering Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District · Order 03-10-05-26-12 · USFS · Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District

  • Temporary area, road, and trail closures for Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon post-fire impacts

    Agency alert covering Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District · Order 03-10-05-26-05 · USFS · Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District

As of · Source: USFS · Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Cathedral Rock

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

    47° / 18°

    4 wet · 3 snow

  2. Feb

    50° / 21°

    4 wet · 2 snow

  3. Mar

    57° / 26°

    4 wet · 1 snow

  4. Apr

    64° / 31°

    4 wet · 1 snow

  5. May

    73° / 39°

    4 wet

  6. Jun

    84° / 48°

    6 wet

  7. Jul

    85° / 54°

    12 wet

  8. Aug

    83° / 52°

    12 wet

  9. Sep

    78° / 45°

    7 wet

  10. Oct

    67° / 34°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    55° / 25°

    4 wet · 1 snow

  12. Dec

    47° / 18°

    4 wet · 2 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pecos Nm, NM, 10.6 mi away at 6,878 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Cathedral Rock is a climbing area in the Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest, about 10 miles from Pecos. It sits within the Bert Clancy Fishing Area (Pecos Estates) and is managed by State Fish and Wildlife. The warmest, driest stretch runs from May through September, with typical highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 40s at a nearby weather station. July and August bring the most wet days, about 12 each month. Winter is cold, with typical highs around 47°F and lows near 18°F. Two climbing areas, Bleachers and Cheap Seats, sit just 0.1 mile away. Field Tract Campground is about a mile off, and the Pecos River offers fishing roughly 5 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Middle Earth SectorPhoto: National Trails Office (US National Park Service), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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MordorPhoto: National Trails Office (US National Park Service), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Chicken Little AreaPhoto: National Trails Office (US National Park Service), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Lower ButtressPhoto: Mary P Madigan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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