Robledo Mountain via Leasburg Slot Canyon in Robledo Mountains Wilderness, NM

Hike Robledo Mountain via Leasburg Slot Canyon Robledo Mountains Wilderness, NM

Class 3 7.2 miles 2900 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Feb 28, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

After a few burly days in Big Bend National Park, I was looking for a more pleasant hike near Las Cruces on my way home, and Robledo Mountain fit the bill. You can easily approach this peak from the west using the dirt road system, but I was more interested in checking out a slot canyon known as Leasburg Slot Canyon (or Las Cruces Slot) on the peak's eastern slope, and then continuing to the summit of Robledo Mountain from the head of the slot. My local friend Kevin informed me this route was viable and quite nice, so I excitedly headed to the trailhead. This trailhead is just a pull-off on the east side of the Rio Grande River and any car can get there. Note that the west side road of the Rio Grande River is on private property, so crossing the river on foot is required. You may notice my attached map is a bit of a mess, which I'll explain more about later.

The river was barely flowing and I didn't even need to take my shoes off, but who knows what the conditions will be on any given day. I headed through some spiky plants and then did some light brush-dodging to reach the mouth of Leasburg Slot Canyon. The conglomerate formations within the slot are really nice and the zig-zags of the canyon last a surprisingly long time. After taking a bunch of photos and dawdling as I enjoyed this unique spot, I reached the point where the canyon opens up and located a social/animal trail on the left, leading me out of the drainage.

I could see Robledo Mountain's summit ahead, protected by limestone cliff bands. I figured my best option to avoid those cliffs would be to ascend to the peak's south ridge rather than head directly up its east face. After all, I had told myself I was looking for a more relaxed day. The route was mostly clear of brush and rocks, a pleasant slope ascent. There was some Class 2 as I neared the ridgeline as the terrain got more steep, and a short cliff obstacle added some light Class 2/2+ to reach Robledo Mountain's south ridge. An avoidable Class 3 section along the crest led to the summit, but the Class 3 moves were fun, solid, and short-lived.

I originally intended to return the way I came, but from the summit of Robledo Mountain I could see Lookout Peak to the north, a significant neighboring peak just a short walk away. I sighed, knowing I’d regret not summiting it, and continued along Robledo Mountain's north ridge after giving my sore legs a quick massage from days of dehydration and overuse. A few fun Class 3 moves on solid limestone cliff bands led down the north ridge, quite a nice little route, and I was back on a pleasant slope. This would probably be more fun as an ascent, but I didn't know better before attempting the route.

After reaching the northern base of Robledo Mountain, I continued north over a hump along the ridgeline that added a couple hundred vertical elevation gain, and then I found myself on a dirt road at the base of Lookout Peak. I followed the road a short time and then continued off-trail on easy terrain to the peak's summit, which had some radio towers or similar structures. I backtracked from Lookout Peak and made it back to its southern saddle.

Now to address the issue of my messy attached map. I left my green line descent mishap (a rough estimate, at least) so you can see what I actually did, and maybe avoid going that way yourself. I mapped out a rough sketch (purple line) of what would be a safer and easier descent route back into Leasburg Slot. The problem is that the conglomerate rock through which Leasburg Slot was carved forms a serious cliff that wraps around most of the east face of Robledo Mountain. The slot itself carved all the way through these cliffs without dryfalls, but that isn't the case for other drainages coming off Robled Mountain, as I learned. The green line follows my friend Kevin's recommendation, which I'll describe here. From the saddle, I dropped into a brushy drainage and continued descending, passing over a few fun Class 3 limestone obstacles before reaching a major dryfall. This dryfall can by bypassed on the right, and then leads back into the drainage, where a substantial overhung drop leads into the conglomerate formation. I didn’t want to trust the potentially unstable conglomerate rock—it looks stable, but its large rocks might pop out under the right pressure. Kevin warns this is a "scary step", but I wasn't in the mood for this kind of spice today. I decided to attempt the adjacent canyon, which required going up and over a hill and descending more conglomerate. This second canyon had a 20-foot dryfall and then who knows what else after it, so I decided to cut my losses and just traverse back to Leasburg Slot Canyon's head. My stats do not reflect my mishaps.

The purple line on my attached map is what I believe would work well as a descent route, leading as directly as possible from the ridgeline down to Leasburg Slot. I can’t describe it in detail since I didn’t go that way, but from below and on a satellite map, it looks like a perfectly viable option. I was happy to get a second walk through the slot canyon, anyway. So much for a relaxed day—but hey, that’s adventuring, I suppose!

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Robledo Mountain
5890 ft
1410 rise
2
Lookout Peak
5648 ft
528 rise

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From my parking spot, a view across the very low Rio Grande River. Robledo Mountain seen left, Lookout Peak on the right.
From my parking spot, a view across the very low Rio Grande River. Robledo Mountain seen left, Lookout Peak on the right.
Close-up toward Leasburg Slot (center) and Robledo Mountain (top left) after crossing the river.
Close-up toward Leasburg Slot (center) and Robledo Mountain (top left) after crossing the river.
Entering Leasburg Slot.
Entering Leasburg Slot.
The narrows are comprised of very pretty conglomerate.
The narrows are comprised of very pretty conglomerate.
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One of many bends in the slot.
One of many bends in the slot.
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Image 14 from gallery
After exiting Leasburg Slot's narrows, I headed up to its southeastern rim on an animal trail and started ascending to Robledo Mountain, seen ahead.
After exiting Leasburg Slot's narrows, I headed up to its southeastern rim on an animal trail and started ascending to Robledo Mountain, seen ahead.
Robledo Mountain ahead. I continued up the slope on the left to reach the ridge on the left in this photo.
Robledo Mountain ahead. I continued up the slope on the left to reach the ridge on the left in this photo.
Along the pleasant slope to the south ridge of Robledo Mountain.
Along the pleasant slope to the south ridge of Robledo Mountain.
Avoidable Class 2+ move as I ascend to the south slope.
Avoidable Class 2+ move as I ascend to the south slope.
View back, Leasburg slot on the right, Lookout Peak top left, my car somewhere far right.
View back, Leasburg slot on the right, Lookout Peak top left, my car somewhere far right.
Approaching the Class 2 bit to gain the south ridge.
Approaching the Class 2 bit to gain the south ridge.
View back down the slope I ascended after gaining the south ridge.
View back down the slope I ascended after gaining the south ridge.
Along Robledo Mountain's south ridge, headed to the summit.
Along Robledo Mountain's south ridge, headed to the summit.
Class 3 section, fun and solid. It's likely avoidable on the left by wrapping around.
Class 3 section, fun and solid. It's likely avoidable on the left by wrapping around.
Robledo Mountain summit, view toward the Organ Mountains.
Robledo Mountain summit, view toward the Organ Mountains.
Robledo Mountain summit, view north toward Lookout Peak.
Robledo Mountain summit, view north toward Lookout Peak.
Starting down from Robledo Mountain. I just followed the obvious ridgeline to get over to Lookout Peak ahead.
Starting down from Robledo Mountain. I just followed the obvious ridgeline to get over to Lookout Peak ahead.
Class 3 on the way down from Robledo Mountain.
Class 3 on the way down from Robledo Mountain.
View up the fun Class 3 blocks as I near the base of Robledo Mountain.
View up the fun Class 3 blocks as I near the base of Robledo Mountain.
View back toward Robledo Mountain as I continue north toward Lookout Peak.
View back toward Robledo Mountain as I continue north toward Lookout Peak.
Lookout Peak ahead. A road leads about halfway up on the right.
Lookout Peak ahead. A road leads about halfway up on the right.
Approaching Lookout Peak.
Approaching Lookout Peak.
Lookout Peak, view south toward Robledo Mountain.
Lookout Peak, view south toward Robledo Mountain.
Lookout Peak summit.
Lookout Peak summit.
The next few photos are of my mess-up descent. Some may find it perfectly fine, but I wasn't in the mood for it today. I recommend just using the line I outlined in my attached map (purple) for a better descent option.
The next few photos are of my mess-up descent. Some may find it perfectly fine, but I wasn't in the mood for it today. I recommend just using the line I outlined in my attached map (purple) for a better descent option.
Pretty narrows along my initial descent, the mess-up (green line).
Pretty narrows along my initial descent, the mess-up (green line).
Silly descent, a shot of an avoidable dryfall.
Silly descent, a shot of an avoidable dryfall.
Mishap descent at the awkward-looking drop that I decided to bail on in order to find a less dangerous alternative. It's probably not that bad, but my head wasn't feeling it.
Mishap descent at the awkward-looking drop that I decided to bail on in order to find a less dangerous alternative. It's probably not that bad, but my head wasn't feeling it.
Another mishap on my descent attempt, this one down the canyon just northwest of Leasburg Slot Canyon. Class 4 on potentially brittle conglomerate. No thanks.
Another mishap on my descent attempt, this one down the canyon just northwest of Leasburg Slot Canyon. Class 4 on potentially brittle conglomerate. No thanks.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!