Overview
Mexican Hat is a 60 feet wide rock which lies upon a much smaller rock which gives it the look of a Mexican Sombrero made of stone. The rock is located in the south east part of Utah near well known Monument Valley. The rock has two main routes which can be climbed: The Royal Robbins and The Bandito Route. Both routes are worth the effort. The looks from the the top are great. You can see the valley of the gods, monument Valley, San Juan River and the Comb Ridge Anticline, a beautiful geologic feature.Also interesting are the relics in the summit cairn.
On the way...
Getting There
Mexican Hat is located on Hwy 163, 24 miles west of Bluff in Utah. It has a few small motels, a private campground, a few restaurants, service stations and some gift shops. Take a look at the Map to see how to get there!
The Mexican Hat on the Map is the village, not the rock! The rock itself is located 3 miles north of the village. A 'scenic' route goes from the village to the rock. Also when driving on the Hwy 163, you can see the Mexican Hat driving along it. Eventually you get a sign where a road starts to the rock. Unfortunately this road isn't paved. It's a little dirt road, so please first check if your vehicle is up to it, because the road has a couple of hills in it which can get your car stuck in the sand, (it almost happened to our car too!) so look out!
If you don't want to take the risk, it's a beautiful walk also.
A lot of actual parking space there isn't,although there is a little parkinglot, but alongside the road there is enough space to park your car, because the place is for as far as i know not too crowded!
The Top & Routes
In the Sun
Near the Summit
Bandito Route
300 million year old?
Beautiful desert views from the Hat
Mexican Hat
It’s a nice walk up to the Mexican hat, with a little hiking you can get just under the ‘steep summit part’ which gives you a beautiful view towards the great Geologic layers in the surrounding area. To get under the top there is no needed route. From all angles you can climb up there quite easily.To take the easiest way, just walk around and make your choice. To get on the actual Hat there are two main routes:
The Bandito Route (A1)
This is the normal and easiest route up. There are bolts in the rock which you can 'follow' to the top. The route is (as expected) overhanging.When hiking to the base of the hat, just look for the bolts,they are easy to find, when you find them, you know you are on the Bandito-Route.
What to take
A few biners and aid climbing hardware is all you need-the route is a bolt ladder. A stick clip is useful for the first bolt, but you get full redit if you clip it by standing on your belayer's back
Note that some of the bolts might be loose! So watch out!
The Royal Robbins Route (5.6 A2 R)
This route is situated exactly opposite of the Bandito Route. The route isn't a bolt ladder like the Bandito Route is. This route is 'natural'.You can scramble up to the base of the 'Hat'. The climb starts really difficult until you get at the lip, where you can climb up to the summit.
What to take
Pins, cams and stoppers
Hotels & Camping
Hotels:Hat Rock Inn
Location: Mexican Hat (village)
Tel.: 435-683-2221
San Juan Inn
Location: Mexican Hat (village)
Tel: 435-683-2220
Calf Canyon bed and breakfast
Location: Bluff
Tel.:888-922-2470
Camping:
Valle’s RV park
Location: HWY 163
Operator: Commercial
Size: 25 sites
Season: Open year around
Prize: 14-55 dollar
Phone: 435-683-2226
Nearby Attractions
Blanding:Blanding is a small town of 4,000. It is home to a small state park featuring ancient Indian artifacts, but serves mostly as a stopping off point for travelers in the area
Bluff:
Bluff is a tiny community that serves mostly as a base for those running the San Juan River and traveling in the region.
Monument valley very closeby
Monument Valley:
Monument Valley is an area of exceptional free standing red rock monoliths that rise up to 1,000 above the desert floor. The landscape they create is truly majestic, a fact documented by the numerous Westerns that have used it as a backdrop.
San Juan River:
San Juan River winds easily through beautiful remote canyons before emptying into Lake Powell. It has mild white water, Indian pictographs and Anasazi ruins, and some good hiking opportunities into side canyons.
