The Dungeon
The Dungeon in New Mexico has 8 climbing routes with 8 distinct difficulty grades.
- 8 routes
- 5.5 – 5.12a
- Sport · Mixed · Bouldering
Is Dungeon, The open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Espanola Ranger District.
Headquarters Well Area Closure on Española Ranger District
Agency alert covering Espanola Ranger District · Order 03-10-06-25-17 · USFS · Espanola Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Espanola Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit The Dungeon
Best months: April–June and September–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
40° / 21°
6 wet
Feb
45° / 24°
6 wet
Mar
53° / 30°
7 wet
Apr
61° / 35°
6 wet
May
70° / 44°
6 wet
Jun
81° / 53°
7 wet
Jul
83° / 57°
13 wet
Aug
80° / 55°
14 wet
Sep
74° / 49°
9 wet
Oct
63° / 38°
6 wet
Nov
50° / 28°
5 wet
Dec
40° / 21°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Los Alamos, NM, 2 mi away at 7,424 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Dungeon is a climbing area in the Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots, with 45° Boulder, Main Wall and Trash Tower all about 0.1 mile away. The area has eight routes, six of them sport climbs, with grades ranging from 5.5 to 5.12a. The mixed route Chocolate Glove is rated 5.9+, and the boulder route at the site is V1. The hardest sport route is The Reverend Mr. Black at 5.12a. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from the nearby Los Alamos weather station show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 74°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 13 and 14 a month. Pajarito Canyon and Nail Trail are both about 0.2 mile away for hiking, and the Cañon de Valle Boulders are about 1.2 miles off.
Routes (8)
Fin Wall, The(1)
Thrasher Area(2)
Witch Tower(1)
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