Historic Information
Hueco Tanks is composed of irregular masses of syenite porphyry which eroded over the years creating unique rock formations and some of the best bouldering in the world!
People have been visiting Hueco Tanks for over 10,000 years! They have sought shelter from the elements and from enemies; they found food and water and worshiped gods in Hueco. They left their imprint in a fragile desert environment that today is still a place of worship and scared to many groups. Because of the Native American history and artifacts, we are privileged to climb in this area. Please respect the cultural artifacts. Point out items of interest but never touch or move items.
In 1975 Mike Head came across this obscure pile of rock in the Texas desert. While he and his pals established routes in the area, they also foresaw the potential of climbing on all of the rock faces—even the smaller steep ones. Since then people have been captivated with the bouldering in Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site. In the 1980-90s John Sherman birthed the V-grading system in Hueco while widely developing the area. Word spread about this bouldering Mecca and curious climbers made the trek to the east El Paso site. The early days of unlocking Hueco's bouldering potential brought many visitors. Fred Nicole visited and established the first V13 in 1995 and the first V14 in 1997 and V15 in 2005. Hueco was loved too much by all and abused by some, as a result restrictions were put into place to protect the delicate landscape and rock art. In 2000 the new Public Use Plan was put into action, creating the reservation system for the self-guided North Mountain and the guide program for East Mountain, West Mountain, and The East Spur--we help provide access to these historic bouldering areas. Due to the delicate nature of the dessert and the sacred historic footprint we ask that all visitors follow the rules of Hueco and respect the delicate access.
Read more about Hueco Tanks’ history through the Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site website.
The Climbers of Hueco Tanks Coalition historic brochure:
