El Rito Sport Area
El Rito Sport Area in New Mexico has 28 routes with bouldering pads and sport climbing.
- 28 routes
- 5.7 – 5.12b
- Sport · Bouldering
Is El Rito Sport Area open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Carson National Forest.
Current Prescribed Fire Activity and Plans
Agency alert covering Carson National Forest · USFS · Carson National Forest
Current Fire Restrictions and Related Prohibitions
Agency alert covering Carson National Forest · USFS · Carson National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Carson National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit El Rito Sport Area
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
41° / 18°
5 wet
Feb
46° / 21°
4 wet
Mar
54° / 26°
4 wet
Apr
63° / 32°
4 wet
May
72° / 40°
5 wet
Jun
81° / 47°
5 wet
Jul
84° / 54°
9 wet
Aug
82° / 53°
10 wet
Sep
76° / 46°
6 wet
Oct
65° / 36°
5 wet
Nov
51° / 25°
4 wet
Dec
41° / 19°
4 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at El Rito, NM, 3.1 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.
El Rito Sport Area is a climbing area in the El Rito Ranger District of Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots, including The Balcony, Super Slab and 45 Degree Boulder, all within about a tenth of a mile. The area offers a mix of sport climbing and bouldering. Of its 28 routes, 17 are sport routes with grades from 5.7 up to 5.12b, and 11 are boulders ranging from V1 to V10. Sport climbers can try Two Buck Chuck at 5.7 or Grits at 5.12b, while boulderers will find the V6 median grade in the bouldering area. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in El Rito show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 76°F, with July and August bringing the most wet days. That station sits about 700 feet lower than the climbing area, so temperatures up high run cooler. El Rito campground is about 3 miles away, and the Cdt - New Mexico Section hike is roughly 8 miles off. The Rio Ojo Caliente paddling route and the Cerro Negro Loop are both within about 9 miles.
Routes (28)
Beer Boulder(2)
Bozo Boulder(2)
Cellar Wall(3)
Front Porch, The(3)
Mad Max Boulder(2)
Small Boulder(4)
Training Wall(4)
Wall of Mediocrity(4)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: Kent G. Budge, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Tres Piedras Bouldering
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Schoolhouse Slab
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