New Mexico · Rock climbing · Albuquerque

Switchback Boulder

Switchback Boulder in New Mexico has 6 bouldering routes.

6 routes

V0 – V2

Bouldering

Is Switchback Boulder open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sandia Ranger District. It doesn't name Switchback Boulder, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

Area Closure for Recreation Residence Structures and Property at 91 Casa Loma Road
Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-14 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District
Area Closure for Recreation Residence Structures and Property at 69 Casa Loma Road
Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-13 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District
Area Closure for Sandia Crest “Switchback” Hazard Tree and Fuel Reduction Project
Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-02 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District
Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts Stage 1 Fire Restriction Lifted
Agency alert covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-00-26-20 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District
Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts Stage 1 Fire Restriction Order 03-03-00-26-05
Agency alert covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-00-26-05 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

As of Oct 25, 7:20 pm MDT · Source: USFS · Sandia Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Switchback 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
45° / 26°
5 wet · 3 snow
Feb
51° / 29°
5 wet · 3 snow
Mar
60° / 35°
5 wet · 2 snow
Apr
68° / 40°
4 wet · 1 snow
May
78° / 49°
5 wet
Jun
88° / 58°
5 wet
Jul
89° / 62°
11 wet
Aug
86° / 61°
11 wet
Sep
80° / 55°
8 wet
Oct
68° / 43°
6 wet
Nov
54° / 33°
5 wet · 2 snow
Dec
44° / 26°
5 wet · 3 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Albuquerque Foothills Ne, NM, 3.8 mi away at 5,994 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Switchback Boulder is a bouldering area in the Sandia Foothills, on city land within the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest in New Mexico. It sits among a cluster of climbing areas, with the U Mound Eye of the Sandias Link hike just 0.1 mile away and the Brett and Jill boulders about 0.3 mile off. The area is a small, compact bouldering spot with six routes, all rated between V0- and V2 on the V scale. The easiest is Red at V0-, and the hardest is Blue at V2. The Rainbow, a V0+ route, was first climbed by E. Foltz. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 78°F and October highs around 68°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 11 each month.