Mentmore Climbing Area
There are two separate recreation areas at Mentmore, the climbing cliffs and the western trailhead for the High Desert Trail System. Due to the remote location, there is rarely anyone at Mentmore other than locals. Dogs are welcome.
Mentmore Rock Climbing Area
A local climber/biker discovered the cliffs at Mentmore in 1997. Climbers and outdoor enthusiasts in the Gallup area collaborated with the family who owns the property to make Mentmore a fun place to climb. Prior to development as a climbing area, the site was being used for illegal dumping. There is still a lot of broken glass and debris around the cliffs.
The cliffs are composed of a well-cemented uplifted shelf of yellow to tan Cretaceous Gallup Sandstone. In total, there are over 100 routes, usually 40' to 50' tall. Most of the routes are sport, with a few traditional in the mix. There are more than 50 bolted top rope climbs and 31 sport climbs, ranging in height from 25 to 45 feet with difficultly levels of 5.0 through 5.13.
Mentmore is comprised of two separate areas, the new area and the original area. Both contain single-pitch sandstone climbs, with numerous moderate routes. All routes have easily accessible top rope anchors and plenty of rap stations for easy anchor set up and cleanup. Most top ropes require short (under 4') slings.
Original Area
Walk west along the path/dirt road from the parking area, down into the arroyo, then up again towards the visible cliffs. It is about a 5-10 minute walk. Be careful of broken glass and other garbage. The area used to be a dumping area. The original area is well established with numerous routes.
New Area
Walk south from the parking area towards the nearby cliffs. About a 5-minute walk. There are new climbs added to the new area every year. Some locals believe the ratings in this area are slightly overrated.
![Map showing route to take to get from downtown Gallup to Mentmore climbing area and a superimposed photo of people climbing](https://gallup.imgix.net/images/Mentmore.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=931cf3c90490a253b7e4bd64fa53d937 320w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/Mentmore.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=e342aa792113c9c64ceb075e350034ca 540w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/Mentmore.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=08c1b07614b2859f9bc5609ab7c5989d 768w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/Mentmore.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=4be018a1da2d272eecc1a400e227c4c3 1024w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/Mentmore.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=eb48e7035d5733ef706d14e74894a4c5 1200w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/Mentmore.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=b38038a34b334d3b07f75cbdb4c775cc 1440w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/Mentmore.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=cbb5afd8108b9d7041f38f86fc8bca9d 1920w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/Mentmore.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=3c9be65ee186fb0b4b2fc1e6493dadb5 2467w)
During the rainy season (July/August), check the weather (current and recent) before trekking to Mentmore. The sandstone gets fragile when it is wet. Local climbers ask that you wait about 48 hours following a heavy rainstorm before climbing.
The area is owned by the city of Gallup so there are no access issues. However, don’t park on the railroad tracks behind the original area. It is an active train line. A lot of trains go through Gallup daily.
Mentmore Climbing Area
209 Mentmore Road Gallup, New Mexico 87301
Phone
(505) 726-5490
Directions: West on Route 66/Hwy 118, .5 mile from Interstate 40. Exit 16 in Gallup. Turn right (north) onto County Road 1 and travel for about one mile. The road makes a sharp turn to the left (west) and becomes Mentmore Road.
Take Mentmore Road about 1.5 miles up and over the hill. At the bottom of the hill the road turns sharply to the right. At this turn go straight through the open gate to the Mentmore Rock Climbing Area Parking Lot.
![a group of mountain bikers biking along the High Desert Mountain Trails](https://gallup.imgix.net/images/High-Desert-Trail.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=335463275e0f44ce1208899a5be51e54 320w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/High-Desert-Trail.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=740987247b54d6297a7ff453ba79d1ab 540w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/High-Desert-Trail.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=768&s=ba32a80f34a06d4872bda911d53f8772 768w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/High-Desert-Trail.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1024&q=80&w=1024&s=880fb67d434b13360ba71ec31461474f 1024w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/High-Desert-Trail.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&q=80&w=1200&s=6eedb9fe346b1ff01a88aec098a854f9 1200w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/High-Desert-Trail.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1440&s=c666b609a368b65f808df37220c0e4f2 1440w)
High Desert Trail System
The High Desert Trail system is comprised of over 22 miles of trail and is suitable for an afternoon or an all-day epic hike or bike ride.
209 Mentmore Road Gallup, New Mexico 87301 (505) 726-5490
![](https://gallup.imgix.net/images/KW-Biking-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=cd91341ee618f4e4bb251a3d2768bd36 320w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/KW-Biking-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=f1c8a5cea47c52d7ea33e8f470978b62 540w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/KW-Biking-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=768&s=0c067ef60d98b512296ee39a9ac307fe 768w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/KW-Biking-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1024&q=80&w=1024&s=7ce53c5faa7785b8d36fed02b3318965 1024w, https://gallup.imgix.net/images/KW-Biking-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&q=80&w=1200&s=a354f12045d4a58431aff8aa27537d30 1080w)
Zuni Mountain Trail System
Hiking and mountain biking in the forests around McGaffey.