New Mexico · Rock climbing · Vadito

Water Wall

Water Wall in New Mexico has 14 climbing routes across 11 grades.

14 routes
5.6 – 5.10c
Trad · Mixed · Sport

Is Water Wall open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Carson National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Carson National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Water Wall

Best months: May–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

    44° / 18°

    5 wet · 5 snow

  2. Feb

    45° / 20°

    5 wet · 5 snow

  3. Mar

    51° / 24°

    6 wet · 5 snow

  4. Apr

    57° / 29°

    6 wet · 3 snow

  5. May

    65° / 36°

    6 wet · 1 snow

  6. Jun

    75° / 43°

    7 wet

  7. Jul

    76° / 47°

    12 wet

  8. Aug

    74° / 46°

    12 wet

  9. Sep

    69° / 41°

    7 wet

  10. Oct

    61° / 32°

    5 wet · 1 snow

  11. Nov

    52° / 24°

    4 wet · 3 snow

  12. Dec

    44° / 18°

    4 wet · 4 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gascon, NM, 19.8 mi away at 8,250 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Water Wall is a climbing area in the Camino Real Ranger District of Carson National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing spots, with Fire Wall and Lower Walls both about 0.1 mile away. The area has 14 routes, 11 of them trad, one mixed and one sport. The grades run from 5.6 to 5.10c, with Pure Vida at 5.10a and Black and Tan at 5.10c among the harder ones. Gothic Pillar is the easiest, at 5.6, and Tranquilo is a mixed route with a first ascent by Jay Foley and Donna Longo. For timing, summer is the most comfortable stretch. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Gascon run to highs around 76°F in July, though July and August also bring the most wet days of the year, about 12 each month. Winter is cold, with January highs near 44°F and lows around 18°F. Comales campground is about 0.4 mile away, and the Rio Pueblo offers canoeing about 0.5 mile off. Tio Maes Canyon and Osha Canyon are both within a mile for hiking.

Routes (14)