New Mexico · Rock climbing · Datil

Pogue's Cave Area

Pogue's Cave Area in New Mexico has 18 sport climbing routes on 11 difficulty grades.

18 routes
5.10b – 5.12a/b
Sport

Is Pogue's Cave Area open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Magdalena Ranger District.

  • Magdalena Ranger District Bear Trap Campground Closure Order #03-03-03-26-01

    Agency alert covering Magdalena Ranger District · Order 03-03-03-26-01 · USFS · Magdalena Ranger District

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

Best time to visit Pogue's Cave 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.

  1. Jan

    43° / 20°

    5 wet

  2. Feb

    47° / 23°

    5 wet

  3. Mar

    56° / 27°

    5 wet

  4. Apr

    64° / 33°

    3 wet

  5. May

    73° / 41°

    4 wet

  6. Jun

    83° / 50°

    5 wet

  7. Jul

    83° / 53°

    11 wet

  8. Aug

    80° / 52°

    12 wet

  9. Sep

    75° / 46°

    7 wet

  10. Oct

    64° / 37°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    52° / 27°

    4 wet

  12. Dec

    43° / 20°

    5 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pietown 19ne, NM, 18 mi away at 7,961 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Pogue's Cave Area is a climbing area in the Magdalena Ranger District of Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing walls, with Enchanted Tower, Midnight Pumpkin Wall and Mother Goose Wall all about 0.1 mile away. The area is a sport climbing destination. Of its 18 routes, the easiest is Prima Donna at 5.10b, the median grade is 5.11a/b and the hardest is Never Never Land at 5.12a/b. The routes include Prima Donna, first climbed by Greg Opland, Chris Raypole, Fred Amrhein and Donna Forst, and Never Never Land, first climbed by Matt Samet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Pietown run from highs around 64°F in April and October to about 73°F in May, while July and August bring highs near 83°F and the most wet days of the year.