Variation
Near the top of East Face's nine catalogued routes.
- 5.11d
- grade
- Sport Bolted
- style
Is Variation open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Magdalena Ranger District.
Magdalena Ranger District Bear Trap Campground Closure Order #03-03-03-26-01
Agency alert covering Magdalena Ranger District · Order 03-03-03-26-01 · USFS · Magdalena Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Magdalena Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Best time to visit Variation
Best months: April–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
43° / 20°
5 wet
Feb
47° / 23°
5 wet
Mar
56° / 27°
5 wet
Apr
64° / 33°
3 wet
May
73° / 41°
4 wet
Jun
83° / 50°
5 wet
Jul
83° / 53°
11 wet
Aug
80° / 52°
12 wet
Sep
75° / 46°
7 wet
Oct
64° / 37°
5 wet
Nov
52° / 27°
4 wet
Dec
43° / 20°
5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pietown 19ne, NM, 16.6 mi away at 7,961 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
One of nine routes catalogued at East Face, this climb sits near the upper end of the crag's range, which spans from 5.10b/c to 5.12a.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Monster Island
~11 min drive
Monster Island in New Mexico has 16 climbing routes across 11 grades.
Photo: RuggyBearLA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)El Malpais
~1h 13m drive
El Malpais in New Mexico has 21 climbing routes across 15 grades, offering bouldering, mixed, and trad options.
Mother Goose Wall
~2 min drive
Mother Goose Wall in New Mexico has 10 sport climbing routes across 5 grades.
Enchanted Tower
~3 min drive
13 climbing routes at Enchanted Tower in New Mexico span 10 difficulty grades.
Pogue's Cave Area
~3 min drive
Pogue's Cave Area in New Mexico has 18 sport climbing routes on 11 difficulty grades.
Midnight Pumpkin Wall
~3 min drive
Midnight Pumpkin Wall is a New Mexico climbing crag with 6 sport routes across 5 grades.
Sleeping Beauty Wall
~3 min drive
11 routes at Sleeping Beauty Wall in New Mexico span 9 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
North (Left) Face
~3 min drive
North (Left) Face in New Mexico has 10 sport climbing routes.
The Enchanted Tower
~3 min drive
Enchanted Tower in New Mexico has 4 sport climbing routes on 3 difficulty grades.
Rapunzel Wall
~3 min drive
Rapunzel Wall in New Mexico has 6 sport climbing routes across 4 grades.