Miner's Crag  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  6,000' Lat, Long:  36.5995, -105.6918 Map Page Views:  5,073. Good page?    Administrators:  Mike Howard, Aaron Hobson, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Jfoley on Oct 5, 2008 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

BETA PHOTO: Miner's Crag as seen from The river. Ah-Ah is the...

Description 

Secluded Sport and Trad crack climbing on the West Side of the Rio Grande Gorge North of John Dunn Bridge. This is a "funky" area, some people have raved about the climbing here, while others have walked away without climbing. The cliff is scary looking with many fractures and sits above a rough dusty base.The climbing is well featured with lots of flat edges,crimps and cracks on mostly vertical to slightly overhanging basalt. The routes tend to be close together and short. Although a few sport routes are now 30 meters. The sport routes are well equipped and climb steep faces and aretes on solid rock. The trad routes follow cracks in faces and corners. Although there is typically ample pro the cracks can be jagged and be hollow or have some small loose rocks in the cracks. Expect tricky gear placements!

Getting There 

From the John Dunn Bridge Area described in the guide book Taos Rock or The Arroyo Hondo/Seco area follow road past John's wall up switch backs to the west rim above John Dunn Bridge. Turn right (North) on well maintained Montoso road (towards houses). Continue on this road for 1.6 miles. stay right at fork past last house onto two track (high clearance/4WD if wet). Continue 2.5 miles stay on main track then right at fork and park at Miner's trail head. Note: Don't get caught in a rainstorm here. If you do it may be wise to wait until road dries before trying to drive out. Check out ariel view above for Google maps.

From Town of Taos or locations such as Tres Piedras it may be better to approach this crag from NM highway 64 west of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, a bit further but faster driving: Turn North at mile marker 236 onto Montoso rd (dirt toward Chiflo Mountain (currently signed only on the East side). Pass over cattle guard and continue on this road for 3.7 miles. Now turn left (North) and follow directions above from Montoso Rd.

From parking: Do not go down the Miner's Trail.
Walk back Southeast on two track road (closed to vehicles). Look for faint cairned climber's trail on your left when "road" goes down small hill at first rock outcrops (about 1/4 mile).

Then follow cairns down steep trail into Rio Grande Gorge (about 10 minutes) and eventually traverse right through loose "shale trail" at base of cliff for about 5 more minutes. Beware this trail has a few loose exposed sections. The cliff sits about midway between the rim and the river. About 20 minutes from car park.

Click on "Aerial photo/map" link above for approximate locale.

Great Camping, Mountain Biking, Hiking abound. The Class II whitewater run from Miner's trail to John Dunn Bridge (Middle Box) is a nice casual paddle with one real rapid at "Horsethief Shorty".

Guide Service - Mountain Skills climbingschoolusa.com/index.html

The Classics

Featured Route For Miner's Crag

Gold Pan 5.9  NM : Taos Area : Miner's Crag

Nice moves on good rock with a sloping mantel finish....[more]   Browse More Classics in NM

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redtail hawk	Steve Laycock leading Gold Flake Arete 5.11. Phot...	Thor Husted climbing Reclamation for the first asc...
Thor Husted on Hippie Crack 5.10-	Jay Foley first ascent "Strike it Rich" at Miner's...	Jay sewing up another FA.
FA Blood Diamond	BETA PHOTO: Right/Upstream Miner's Wall	Look who was spotted Deep Water Soloing upstream i...
jay after the f/a of major miner	Miners. FoleyPhoto	minor threat