King for a Day Boulder
7 bouldering routes in New Mexico spanning 7 difficulty grades.
- 7 routes
- V2 – V10
- Bouldering
Is King for a Day Boulder open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Jemez Ranger District. It doesn't name King for a Day Boulder, so check the source for the area it covers.
NFSR 313 Closed Due to Washout Near NM Highway 12
Agency closure covering Jemez Ranger District · USFS · Jemez Ranger District
Gilman Tunnels closed due to rockslide
Agency alert covering Jemez Ranger District · USFS · Jemez Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Jemez Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit King for a Day Boulder
Best months: April–May 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
48° / 19°
4 wet
Feb
52° / 22°
4 wet
Mar
60° / 28°
4 wet
Apr
67° / 33°
3 wet
May
76° / 41°
3 wet
Jun
87° / 50°
4 wet
Jul
89° / 55°
9 wet
Aug
86° / 54°
9 wet
Sep
80° / 47°
6 wet
Oct
70° / 36°
4 wet
Nov
56° / 26°
4 wet
Dec
47° / 19°
4 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Jemez Springs, NM, 6.5 mi away at 6,262 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
King for a Day Boulder is a bouldering area in the Jemez Ranger District of Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with The Scoop Boulder and The Wave both about 0.1 mile away. The area has seven bouldering routes, all rated on the V scale from V2 to V10. The most notable is King for a Day, a V7, and Drag Queen, a V10. The routes were first ascended by climbers including Steve Yadzinski and Eric Whitbeck. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Jemez Springs weather station show May highs around 76°F and October highs around 70°F, while July and August average highs near 89°F with more wet days. Paliza campground is about 1.5 miles away, and the Bench Trail and Walatowa Trail are both within about 5 miles.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
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