Great Hikes in New Mexico Part 1: Day Hikes Near Albuquerque

The Land of Enchantment is blessed with spectacular scenery and an abundance of public lands, providing the outdoor enthusiast with many great hiking and backpacking opportunities, and now with fire restrictions lifted and our national forests once again open to the public, this is a great time to begin my series on Great Hikes in New Mexico. The series will not run on consecutive days, but rather, will be interspersed with other posts throughout the year so you will have to keep checking back!

Before I get started, I must address a few health and safety concerns. Remember that these hikes are not without risk, and each year several hikers and backpackers need to be rescued due to heat exhaustion, snake bites, falls, and other calamities. Hydration is always important but even more so in our hot, dry climate. Pack plenty of fluids because most of these trails do not have water and even those that do, require disinfecting because animals, especially livestock, frequently use these waterways as a toilet! If you are new to New Mexico, take note of any altitude differences. Having experienced extreme altitude sickness myself, I can attest to its devastating effects. After spending several months at sea level, I embarked on an ambitious backpacking trip in the Pecos Wilderness that left me with nausea, headaches, and double vision by the second night. Fortunately, I was backpacking with my husband who was able to take care of me—never hike alone! Finally, we have many wild creatures lurking in our forests, including rattlesnakes, mountain lions, and black bears, and drought conditions have forced many of them closer and closer to populated areas looking for food and water so be cognizant of your surroundings. And if you encounter a wild animal, DO NOT feed it! For more information, please consult the forest service.

Let’s get started on Albuquerque-area hikes. For those of you new to the area or venturing out for the first time, a stop at the Sandia District Ranger Station in Tijeras, located on Hwy. 337 (commonly known as S. Hwy. 14) is a must. There you will find maps, directions, and trail information for hikes in the Sandia and Manzano Mountains. Many of these trails are fairly easy to find with a map which all hikers should carry regardless of experience level.

Most of the trails in the Sandia Mountains are located within 30 minutes of Albuquerque and allow day hikes only (no backpacking) so check with the Ranger regarding restrictions before you head out. A good place to start is the Tree Spring Trail on the east side of the Sandias, approximately 5 ½ miles up the Crest Hwy. The Tree Spring Trail joins the Crest Trail and the 10K Trail after about 2 miles. The Crest Trail offers fantastic views of Albuquerque and occasionally 360-degree views of the entire region. The Crest Trail itself begins in Tijeras and runs 28 miles along the crest of the Sandias. If you want to avoid all of that uphill hiking, you can access the Crest Trail at the top of the mountain, approximately 13 miles up the Crest Hwy. where it terminates at Sandia Crest. There is a $3 parking fee per vehicle in all of these areas unless you purchase an annual pass at the ranger station.

You can also reach Sandia Crest by hiking up the 8-mile La Luz Trail, which starts in the foothills on the west side of the Sandias in the far northeast part of Albuquerque. As I sit here typing this, the annual La Luz Trail Run, long a favorite of trail runners, is just finishing up. The race has become so popular that entry is now by lottery. To get to the La Luz Trail, take Tramway Blvd to Forest Rd 333 in far northeast Albuquerque; then follow the road to the Juan Tabo Picnic Area where you’ll find the trailhead in the upper lot. If you are conditioned for it, I highly recommend this hike as you will experience a wide variety of flora and fauna as you climb through 3,300 feet to Sandia Crest and the views of Albuquerque are amazing. I might also add that you can choose to do a one-way, either up or down, by taking the aerial tramway (or tram) the opposite direction, but be prepared for a short hike between the tram and the La Luz trailhead.

If you prefer to get away from the crowds, the Manzanos are the place to go since they tend to get much less traffic than the Sandias. Again, I strongly recommend obtaining a map before you head out. To get to the Manzanos, travel south on Hwy. 14 (Hwy. 337) until it intersects Hwy. 55; continue south on Hwy. 55 to the towns of Tajique, Torreon, and Manzano. Each of these towns has forest service roads that head west into the Manzano Mountains. A couple of good trails begin at, or near, the Fourth of July Campground, west of Tajique. The Fourth of July Trail, for example, begins at the campground and climbs 1.3 miles to the Manzano Crest Trail where you can experience more great views of the New Mexico landscape.

With so many great trails located within an hour of Albuquerque, it is difficult to do this article justice, but I hope this short piece will inspire you to get out, visit the ranger station in Tijeras, and find your own special hike!

~Lori Dotson, CPT

President, DotsoFit, LLC

All Rights Reserved (2011)