How to go climbing at Hueco Tanks
Planning on visiting Hueco Tanks State Park during the winter climbing season?
You read online and abroad it can be difficult to get access. It can be without advanced reservations. You need to understand the dynamics behind the park system.
You can make reservations for North Mountain access way in advance (90 days) and or join volunteer back country bouldering tours 1 week in advance. Self-Guided on North Mountain is $7.00 per person per day or you can purchase the annual Texas State Parks Pass for $70.00. This pass also allows everyone in the vehicle to enter without additional charges or fees. This is a great way to save money when visiting for a long period of time.
Self-guided area
Due to the fragile nature of the park’s resources, only 70 people can enter the self-guided area at one time. We reach that limit regularly from November through March and on weekends and holidays. Once that happens, no one can enter the area until other visitors leave.
Know before you go:
To avoid a wait, call (512) 389-8911 to reserve a day for your visit. Permits cannot be reserved online.
Booking policies:
- Each person seeking a permit must have a Reserve America account. Create accounts online or by calling (512) 389-8911. You can only create accounts for immediate family members living in your household. All others will need to create their own accounts.
- You can reserve permits for up to four people (including yourself). You will need a phone number or email address associated with each person’s account to reserve a permit for them.
- We recommend creating accounts ahead of time to avoid long phone calls during the busy season.
- You may only cancel permits reserved under your account.
Tours
One of the best ways to explore Hueco Tanks is on a tour. Your guide will show you the area, answer your questions, and explain the park’s natural and cultural history.
- You can only access West Mountain, East Mountain and East Spur with a tour guide.
- Request tours for Wednesdays through Sundays throughout the year by calling (915) 857-1135 before your visit. Due to staff time constraints, we can only give tours if requested early enough to confirm a guide.
Make Reservations Before the Season Begins!
Hueco Tanks Climbing Season Begins in October and ends in March
Set your alarm clock or calendar and call the reservation line beginning in September. You can make reservations up to 90 days in advance. Remember to continue to call and make reservation as the 90 day reservation window moves across the calendar. This is the single most important rule to follow if you want to have an affordable visit. Note: by the end of October ALL North Mountain self-guided slots will be taken through the end of January!
REMINDER: 2 Popular Ways to Get In
How to Access the Hueco Tanks park for Rock Climbing – Bouldering
1. SELF-GUIDED Call (512) 389-8900 or (512) 389-8911 to make a reservation to access North Mountain (Up to 90 days in advance).
2. VOLUNTEER TOUR join or request a back country bouldering tour (Up to 7 days in advance)
Join a Volunteer Tour
One of the best ways to access the park for bouldering is by joining or requesting a volunteer tour. Call 915-857-1135 or walk into the Ranger station and get on a tour or request one:
- You can only access West Mountain, East Mountain and East Spur with a volunteer tour guide.
- Request back country tours for Wednesdays through Sundays throughout the year. Due to staff time constraints.
Important
- Coming to Hueco Tanks without advanced reservations in all aspects can be problematic and stressful.
- Make reservations 3 months in advance beginning in September and October.
- Reserve camping at or near the park to avoid being late to self-guided and back country tours. Air BnB’s located in the city have been problematic.
- If needed. Reserve bouldering crash pads way in advance to insure you’ll have the gear.
Yes, BnB in the city was not a good idea. Traffic in El Paso is heavy in the morning. Definitely a big mistake. Missed our tour.
Signing up for the early 8am tours is risky. Better to get on the 9am and later tours.
Is there guides that take same day reservations? Or how can I find a guide when it’s late notice?
Camp or hang out at the campgrounds. The mountain hut is a good place and the rock ranch is open this year. Usually you can find a guide with a few open slots.
Social media searches are just a bunch of guides trying to sell tours.
Pay guides are the last resort imho
So happy that volunteer guides can climb. There’s more volunteer tours available now. Great people.
“Do you have any volunteer bouldering tours?”… first thing I ask when I enter the park office.