New Mexico · Rock climbing · Los Alamos

Trash Tower

Trash Tower in New Mexico has 7 sport climbing routes across 5 grades.

7 routes
5.7 – 5.11d
Sport

Is Trash Tower open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Espanola Ranger District.

  • Headquarters Well Area Closure on Española Ranger District

    Agency alert covering Espanola Ranger District · Order 03-10-06-25-17 · USFS · Espanola Ranger District

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

Best time to visit Trash Tower

Best months: April–June 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.

  1. Jan

    40° / 21°

    6 wet

  2. Feb

    45° / 24°

    6 wet

  3. Mar

    53° / 30°

    7 wet

  4. Apr

    61° / 35°

    6 wet

  5. May

    70° / 44°

    6 wet

  6. Jun

    81° / 53°

    7 wet

  7. Jul

    83° / 57°

    13 wet

  8. Aug

    80° / 55°

    14 wet

  9. Sep

    74° / 49°

    9 wet

  10. Oct

    63° / 38°

    6 wet

  11. Nov

    50° / 28°

    5 wet

  12. Dec

    40° / 21°

    6 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Los Alamos, NM, 2 mi away at 7,424 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Trash Tower is a Forest Service climbing area in the Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico. It sits among a cluster of other climbing spots, including 45° Boulder, Main Wall and The Dungeon, all within about a tenth of a mile. The Dungeon is the closest of those, and the whole group makes a compact base for climbers looking to string together several routes in one visit. The climbing here is all sport, with grades ranging from 5.7 to 5.11d. The most straightforward is Dunce Cap at 5.7, and the hardest is Trash Compactor at 5.11d. Trash Disco and Weenies Go Like This (aka Garbageman) sit in the 5.10a to 5.11- range. Luke Laeser and Walt Wehner are among the climbers who have left their mark on these routes. For a change from the rock, Pajarito Canyon and the Nail Trail are both about 0.2 miles away. The Cañon de Valle Boulders, roughly 1.2 miles off, add another climbing option nearby.

Routes (7)