These are some popular climbing routes in the Sandia Mountains:
Classic Sandia Mountain Rock Climbs:
Easy to Moderate Routes
• Flake and Bake II 5.5 / Revenge of the Elderly II 5.7 An old classic Sandias outing
• Ramp to Rudder to Runnel Runner II 5.7 Multi-pitch climbing, breathtaking views and exposure, exciting rappels and
• Northwest Ridge of the Thumb III 5.6 One of the most prominent classic ridge ascents in the Sandias with a 360° view at the summit.
• La Selva III 5.7 This is a big day up one the Sandia’s largest walls.
Intermediate Routes:
• Second Coming II 5.8 One of the best climbs of its grade anywhere in New Mexico
• Excitable Boys III 5.9 Fun climbing up an ocean of granite. 6-8 pitches.
• Estrellita Area II 5.8 – 5.10 A great cragging area without too much hiking.
• Mrs. Piggy II 5.8 two pitches of crack and face climbing on the some of the best stone in the Sandias.
• Aviary Ort Overhang II 5.9 One of the most noticeable routes while hiking the Upper La Luz Trail, this climb is a “must do” in the heat of the summer.
• Crackula II 5.8 Two pitches of climbing to the flattest summit you’ve ever seen and perhaps the easiest approach to granite climbing in the range.
Advanced Routes:
• Ghost Rider II 5.10b One of the Sandia’s most easily accessible solid rock climbs at the grade. 3-4 pitches.
• Warpy Moople III 5.9 Funky name? Ya. Great climbing, 8 pitches.
• Yucca Flower Tower and Great Escape 5.10c A massive rib that gives rise to an excellent position. 3-4 pitches.
• SW Ridge of the Needle IV 5.8* Boasting the longest route in the Sandias, 8-12 pitches. A classic must-do.
• Mountain Momma III 5.10c First climbed by accident, this is the sine qua non of what climbing in the Sandia Mountains is about. 6 pitches and rappel egress off the summit.
• License and a Visa II 5.11b Take the Tram to the top for the :10 minute approach to this unique European-style climb. 4 pitches.
• Big T II 5.10d/.11a Four solid pitches of difficult rock climbing on quality stone. 4 pitches.