Enchanted Tower Climbing

For many years climbers enjoyed privileged, short and easy access to Thompson Canyon and the Enchanted Tower via a crossing through a private ranch south of the Tower. Unfortunately, continued abuse of this privileged access by both climbers and other land users forced the ranch caretakers to close this access. As a result, the standard access to the Tower is now via a longer (45 minutes), rougher road by the Davenport Lookout, or by a 45 minute hike in over the ridge separating the Tower from the main road. The directions here reflect these new standard approaches.

Hiking Access:

From highway 60, start driving north down FS road 6. Park just after the second cattle guard at a small pullout (34.24505, -107.93743). From here, you can follow the off-trail GPS track in the Mountain Project map for this area.

You start by crossing to the east side of the road, then following the east side of a fence south into an open field. Continue in this field towards a large open valley on your left (east). Enter the valley, then cross the drainage at the bottom into the right (south) side of the valley. Continue up the valley on the south side, while following this slope to the top of the ridge on the south side of the valley. You'll pass 2 rock formations on your right. At the second rock formation, you'll be at a saddle of sorts. Continue sidehilling to the east to a larger saddle in the distance. From this larger saddle, turn southeast and continue down the slope into the valley below. At the bottom of this valley you'll gain a sandy arroyo, which you follow downstream (south then east) into the larger valley where Enchanted Tower is. The first major climbing wall you see on your left is the Renaissance Wall.

The hiking approach can be faster than the driving approach, depending on hiking and/or off-roading ability. Expect 45 minutes to an hour. 2 miles, and a little under 500 ft elevation gain.

Driving Access:

Access to the Enchanted Tower is via a long, rough road through Thompson Canyon/Davenport Lookout. High clearance highly recommended. The following directions are provided by Jason Halladay, May 2013.

From the intersection of Highway 60 and Highway 12 in Datil, NM, drive 9 miles west on Highway 60 to a signed turn at the dirt Forest Road 6. Turn right on Forest Road 6 and drive 2.8 miles north on FR6, past the now-defunct Mojave Academy buildings, to Forest Road 59. Use caution on this stretch of road and drive slowly as there may be a gate you must open and close as you pass through private property [This gate is gone as of November 2023 but may be reinstalled]. To this point the road is good dirt road. After passing through the gate and private property, turn right on FR 59 up to the Davenport Lookout and begin the steep, loose and rough ascent up the road towards the Davenport Lookout.

The road quickly gets steeper and rougher as it ascends to the Davenport Lookout. Just before the Davenport Lookout, below a large tower, take the road to the right that quickly descends into Thompson Canyon and turns into Thompson Canyon Road. The distance from FR6 to this turnoff onto Thompson Canyon Road is 2.9 miles.

Continue on the occasionally-rough Thompson Canyon Road, past The Land Beyond, for 4.5 miles to The Enchanted Tower area.

From Highway 60 this approach takes 45 to 60 minutes. High clearance is highly recommended. A Subaru Outback or similar will do OK with careful driving.