New Mexico · Rock climbing · Las Cruces

Shady Side

Shady Side in New Mexico has 25 climbing routes across 13 grades, featuring bouldering, sport, and trad.

Shady SidePhoto: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
25 routes
5.4 – 5.11
Trad · Sport · Mixed

Best time to visit Shady Side

Best months: March–May and 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

    56° / 23°

    3 wet

  2. Feb

    62° / 26°

    2 wet

  3. Mar

    69° / 32°

    1 wet

  4. Apr

    77° / 39°

    1 wet

  5. May

    85° / 47°

    3 wet

  6. Jun

    95° / 59°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    94° / 66°

    9 wet

  8. Aug

    91° / 64°

    9 wet

  9. Sep

    86° / 56°

    5 wet

  10. Oct

    77° / 42°

    3 wet

  11. Nov

    66° / 31°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    55° / 23°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Las Cruces 20 N, NM, 21 mi away at 4,327 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.

Shady Side is a climbing area on Bureau of Land Management land within the Las Cruces District Office in southern New Mexico. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking spots, with Sunny Side just 0.1 mile away and several trails within a few tenths of a mile. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April and October highs around 77°F with lows in the upper 30s and 40s, while July and August highs reach the mid-90s and bring the most wet days of the year. The closest neighbors are Sunny Side, the Lower La Cueva Trail and the Arroyo Trail, all within a third of a mile. For an overnight stay, Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground is about 3 miles away.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The ToothPhoto: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

The Tooth

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The High Horns

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The Low Horns

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Little Squaretop Massif

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Organ Needle

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The Fin

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The Citadel

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