New Mexico · Rock climbing · Las Cruces

Vedauwoo Dome

Vedauwoo Dome in New Mexico has 8 climbing routes across 7 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Vedauwoo DomePhoto: Alex Abair, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
8 routes
5.5 – 5.11c/d
Trad · Sport

Best time to visit Vedauwoo Dome

Best months: March–May and 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

    56° / 23°

    3 wet

  2. Feb

    62° / 26°

    2 wet

  3. Mar

    69° / 32°

    1 wet

  4. Apr

    77° / 39°

    1 wet

  5. May

    85° / 47°

    3 wet

  6. Jun

    95° / 59°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    94° / 66°

    9 wet

  8. Aug

    91° / 64°

    9 wet

  9. Sep

    86° / 56°

    5 wet

  10. Oct

    77° / 42°

    3 wet

  11. Nov

    66° / 31°

    3 wet

  12. Dec

    55° / 23°

    4 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Las Cruces 20 N, NM, 11.2 mi away at 4,327 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Vedauwoo Dome is a climbing area on Bureau of Land Management land in the Las Cruces District Office in southern New Mexico. It sits among a cluster of other climbing and mountain biking spots, so it works well as a base for a day of bouldering or a longer outing with more to do. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Las Cruces show April and October highs around 77°F with lows in the upper 30s and 40s, while July and August highs reach the mid-90s and bring the most wet days of the year. Checkerboard Wall is just 0.4 miles away, and the Felsenmeer Area and Pizza Boulders are both within a mile. Mountain bikers can head to Three Arroyos, about half a mile off.

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Checkerboard WallPhoto: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Checkerboard Wall

~1 min drive

Checkerboard Wall in New Mexico has 16 routes with 6 difficulty grades, offering mixed and trad climbing.

Felsenmeer AreaPhoto: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Felsenmeer Area

~1 min drive

Felsenmeer Area is a New Mexico climbing crag with 2 routes.

Pizza BouldersPhoto: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pizza Boulders

~1 min drive

Pizza Boulders in New Mexico has 48 bouldering routes.

Nauty BouldersPhoto: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Nauty Boulders

~1 min drive

Nauty Boulders in New Mexico offers 6 bouldering routes across 5 difficulty grades.

Sugar BowlPhoto: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sugar Bowl

~1 min drive

New Mexico climbing area with 8 trad routes across 6 grades.

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Las Cruces Area Climbing

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The Citadel

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Lesser Spire

~22 min drive

5 traditional climbing routes at Lesser Spire in New Mexico.

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Rib Cage

~22 min drive

Distinctive ribbed formations offering varied climbing in New Mexico's high desert.

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North Rabbit Ear

~22 min drive

North Rabbit Ear is a New Mexico climbing crag with 17 traditional routes.