This crazy place is made up of a mineral called travertine, a mineral deposit from hot springs. It has a feel of limestone with multiple pockets.
The routes here are difficult, all over hanging as they travel through the cave. Not only are they difficult to climb, we found them quite difficult to find! Typically you are lowered off single chains from the roof of the cave, and left wondering what route you did! There were many that were described in the guidebook "Jemez Rock", and we could not even figure out which was which. So, be warned, fun and difficult climbing with confusing route finding!
Please leave the beaners on the chains for lowering!
UPDATE (9/09): At the request of Marc Beverly, all the route postings for Crystal Cave were removed. The photos were moved to this page. The area is currently going through a significant upgrade with new routes, route changes, and link-ups that make the old route descriptions obsolete and confusing.
Getting There
Follow the directions to the Jemez Valley, and continue up highway 4. About one mile beyond the town of Jemez springs is the Soda Dam. Once you see the soda damn, continue to drive just past by some guardrails and park in the left side parking lot. Follow a trail going up the left side of the canyon, directly across from the Soda Dam, for 2-3 minutes and you will run into the cave.
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