Suggested Page Improvements to LBC

La Bajada Canyon is a unique climbing area close to Santa Fe on the southern rim of the volcanic plateaus of the Caja Del Rio. The crag is on USFS land, and parking, the access, et., crosses this public land, so please be respectful that there are delicate resources in the area, cattle, and sometimes wildlife such as rattlesnakes. A 4x4 is not required to get here, but the road can have wheel ruts or sometimes rocks, or washout gullies, so some clearance is probably better than no clearance. Subaru is more than fine. However, be cautious after a rain event or very wet periods as the road can turn to butter in an instant and you might not be able to drive in or out without a major struggle. During the winter, the roads will freeze and give you a false sense of ease in getting in. But you may be stuck til after dark when it refreezes to get out. There have been several instance where folks have had to abandon their cars for a few days. 

Climbing here is year-round, though summer afternoons can be too hot after 11am, and winter mornings too cold until sun hits east aspects. The El Camino Cave faces SW, S and E, and you can work the aspects accordingly, while the steepness of the overhang keeps it mostly shady in the Summer months, and mostly sunny in the Winter. The climbing is on effusive basalt that varies between flow facies to create a variety of climbing styles packed into a single pitch. Be prepared to pull pockets, swing from flat ledges, and crimp subtle features or slopers. With that said, the rock can also be highly fractured, so beware of choss. If you are looking for solid, granite-type of sport climbs, this is not for you. 

Camping is open along the public lands throughout the Caja. Check with the BLM or Forest Service for any latest restrictions or closures. If the weather is not too windy, you might camp along the road a few or a hundred yards from the parking area. This will afford you a front row seat for the stunning sunsets out over the Rio Grande Valley, Jemez Mountains to the west, and Sandia Mountains to the South.