These data are several climate sensitive piñon pine (Pinus edulis) pollen records from the Southern Rockies, USA, that aim to produce a detailed continuous record of effective precipitation and ENSO variability for the last 11,000 years. Present-day population dynamics of P. edulis woodlands in the western USA is controlled by winter minimum precipitation. A combination of La Niña-related drought and high temperatures - 'global-change-type drought' - is lethal for trees such as P. edulis. Insolation and solar output changes are suggested as the main triggers for ENSO climate and vegetation changes.