Potrero Chico, Limestone climbing area in Hidalgo, Mexico

Potrero Chico is a climbing area with more than 600 sport routes set within a circular formation of limestone cliffs that rise above the surrounding desert landscape. The routes vary in difficulty and length, ranging from single-pitch climbs to multi-pitch ascents that take several hours to complete.

Sport climbing here began in the 1960s with Nuevo León climbers using classic techniques. In the 1990s Jeff Jackson, Kevin Gallagher and Alex Catlin from Austin, Texas, opened routes, followed in the 2000s by first ascensionists Ed Wright and Dane Bass. The walls now hold over 600 routes, including Timewave Zero, the second longest sport route in North America.

The name El Potrero Chico means "the small pasture," and the land around the canyon is still grazing ground for the Hidalgo community. Climbers from Austin and Colorado who opened routes in the 1990s have tried to build ties with local residents, though the sources note that much work remains. The canyon entrance holds the bolted routes, while the valley interior is used for mountain biking and hiking.

The climbing routes lie in the canyon at the entrance to the valley, while the interior is mountainous terrain for mountain biking and hiking. The area has highline anchors at several points and tourist services. The rock is usually sharp, and the most-travelled routes can be smooth.

The canyon's shape comes from a salt dome that pushed the limestone layers into a near-vertical position over 200 million years, after which water spilling over the rim cut the gorge. Climbers see the tilted strata in the walls themselves. The sport route Timewave Zero, with 23 pitches and over 2,000 feet, is the second longest in North America.