The Tunnel
The Tunnel in New Mexico has 3 sport climbing routes on 3 difficulty grades.
Photo: Romtomtom, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 3 routes
- 5.11a – 5.12c
- Sport
Is Tunnel, The open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for Lincoln National Forest.
Order# 03-08-26-002: Temporary Road Closure
Agency alert covering Lincoln National Forest · Order 03-08-26-002 · USFS · Lincoln National Forest
Current Fire Restrictions and Related Prohibitions
Agency alert covering Lincoln National Forest · USFS · Lincoln National Forest
Order# 03-08-02-26-001: Bluff Springs Temporary Closure on Sacramento Ranger District
Agency alert covering Sacramento Ranger District · Order 03-08-02-26-001 · USFS · Sacramento Ranger District
Order# 03-08-02-25-001: Sacramento Ranger District Area/ Dispersed Camping and Motor Vehicle Use
Agency alert covering Sacramento Ranger District · Order 03-08-02-25-001 · USFS · Sacramento Ranger District
InciWeb - for current incidents
Agency alert covering Lincoln National Forest · USFS · Lincoln National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Lincoln National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit The Tunnel
Best months: March–November. 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
48° / 26°
4 wet · 2 snow
Feb
52° / 28°
4 wet · 2 snow
Mar
59° / 33°
3 wet · 1 snow
Apr
66° / 37°
2 wet
May
73° / 45°
3 wet
Jun
82° / 54°
5 wet
Jul
81° / 57°
10 wet
Aug
79° / 56°
10 wet
Sep
74° / 51°
6 wet
Oct
66° / 41°
4 wet
Nov
56° / 32°
3 wet · 1 snow
Dec
48° / 26°
4 wet · 2 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mtn Park, NM, 2.3 mi away at 6,804 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
The Tunnel is a climbing area in the Sacramento Ranger District of Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Shady Side and Far Side Right both about 0.1 mile away. The area has three sport routes, all rated between 5.11a and 5.12c on the YDS scale. They are BFM at 5.11a, Fighter Pilots at 5.11d and Shady Hollow at 5.12c. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mtn Park, about 2.3 miles away, show May highs around 73°F and October highs around 66°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 10 each month.
Routes (3)
Upper Band(3)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Far Side Right
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Photo: Romtomtom, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Shady Side Left
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Photo: Romtomtom, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Shady Side
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