Vista del Sol
Vista del Sol in New Mexico has 6 traditional climbing routes across 4 grades.
- 6 routes
- 5.8+ – 5.9+
- Trad
Best time to visit Vista del Sol
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.
Jan
56° / 23°
3 wet
Feb
62° / 26°
2 wet
Mar
69° / 32°
1 wet
Apr
77° / 39°
1 wet
May
85° / 47°
3 wet
Jun
95° / 59°
3 wet
Jul
94° / 66°
9 wet
Aug
91° / 64°
9 wet
Sep
86° / 56°
5 wet
Oct
77° / 42°
3 wet
Nov
66° / 31°
3 wet
Dec
55° / 23°
4 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Las Cruces 20 N, NM, 10 mi away at 4,327 ft. The station sits about 500 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.
Vista del Sol is a climbing area in the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park in southern New Mexico, managed by a non-governmental organization. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with the Butt Cheek Area and Nauty Boulders each about 0.7 miles away and the Felsenmeer Area about 0.8 miles off. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Las Cruces show April highs around 77°F and October highs around 77°F, while June and July average highs near 95°F with more wet days. The area has six trad routes, all rated between 5.8+ and 5.9+. Convection Zone and Edmund's Line are both 5.8+, and Parallel Cracks is 5.9-. The first ascent of Edmund's Line was by Edmund Ward and others, and that of Parallel Cracks was by Pat Gioannini and Tony Grenko.
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: 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.
Photo: 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.
Photo: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Sugar Bowl
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New Mexico climbing area with 8 trad routes across 6 grades.
Photo: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Checkerboard Wall
~2 min drive
Checkerboard Wall in New Mexico has 16 routes with 6 difficulty grades, offering mixed and trad climbing.
Photo: Alex Abair, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Vedauwoo Dome
~2 min drive
Vedauwoo Dome in New Mexico has 8 climbing routes across 7 grades, offering sport and trad options.
Photo: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Pizza Boulders
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Pizza Boulders in New Mexico has 48 bouldering routes.
Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Las Cruces Area Climbing
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Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)The Citadel
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The Citadel in New Mexico has 19 climbing routes across 12 grades, offering sport and trad options.
Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Lesser Spire
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Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Rib Cage
~22 min drive
Distinctive ribbed formations offering varied climbing in New Mexico's high desert.
