The Sponge
The Sponge in New Mexico has 9 climbing routes across 8 difficulty grades, offering bouldering and sport climbing.
- 9 routes
- 5.9+ – 5.12a
- Sport · Bouldering
Is Sponge, The open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Jemez Ranger District. It doesn't name Sponge, The, 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 The Sponge
Best months: May–June and September. 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
36° / 9°
9 wet
Feb
38° / 12°
9 wet
Mar
44° / 20°
9 wet
Apr
52° / 25°
8 wet
May
62° / 32°
8 wet
Jun
72° / 39°
8 wet
Jul
74° / 45°
15 wet
Aug
71° / 43°
15 wet
Sep
66° / 35°
11 wet
Oct
57° / 26°
7 wet
Nov
45° / 17°
6 wet
Dec
36° / 9°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Los Alamos 13 W, NM, 2.7 mi away at 8,716 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Sponge is a climbing area in the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots, with Hidden Tower, Las Conchas and Easy Bake Alcove all about 0.1 mile away. The area has nine routes, eight of them sport climbs and one a boulder problem. The grades run from 5.9+ up to 5.12a, with a median of 5.10c. Freeloader Friday is the hardest, at 5.12a, and Hollywood Tim is the easiest, at 5.9+. The boulder route is rated V8. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Los Alamos show July highs around 74°F with lows near 45°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. For a change from the rock, the East Fork Trail (137) is about half a mile away, and Jemez Falls Campground is roughly 3.8 miles off.
Routes (9)
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