The Lower Slabs
Lower Slabs, The in New Mexico has 5 routes with alpine no fixed protection.
- 5 routes
- 5.9 – 5.11-
- Alpine
Is Lower Slabs, The 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 The Lower Slabs
Best months: May–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
44° / 18°
5 wet · 5 snow
Feb
45° / 20°
5 wet · 5 snow
Mar
51° / 24°
6 wet · 5 snow
Apr
57° / 29°
6 wet · 3 snow
May
65° / 36°
6 wet · 1 snow
Jun
75° / 43°
7 wet
Jul
76° / 47°
12 wet
Aug
74° / 46°
12 wet
Sep
69° / 41°
7 wet
Oct
61° / 32°
5 wet · 1 snow
Nov
52° / 24°
4 wet · 3 snow
Dec
44° / 18°
4 wet · 4 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gascon, NM, 11.2 mi away at 8,250 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Lower Slabs is an alpine climbing area in the Pecos Wilderness, part of the Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits within designated wilderness. The climbing here is all alpine, with five routes ranging from 5.9 to 5.11-. Jalopy and Ramshackle are the easiest at 5.9, and Threadbare is the hardest at 5.11-. Derelict and Arabesque fall in between at 5.10 and 5.10+. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from the nearby Gascon weather station show May highs around 65°F and September highs around 69°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 12 each month. Porvenir Canyon is just 0.6 miles away, and Las Vegas / El Porvenir is about 1.1 miles off. For a hike, Las Dispensas is about 1.5 miles away, and El Porvenir campground is about 1.6 miles away.
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