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HIKING
With over 100 hiking trails, nestled in the Cibola National Forest, appealing to a wide range of explorers, the beauty of the Sandia Mountains is accessible to all from its crest atop the Sandia Peak Tramway.
Be Advised: While its a beautiful trail, the La Luz trail, which takes you from the bottom of the mountain to the top, vice versa, is one of the most challenging and can become impassible between November – April due to snowfall. Please see the trail map above and additional safety information HERE before hiking.
ONE-WAY TRAM TICKET
Ride the tram to the top of the mountain. Hike down to the bottom.
ROUND-TRIP TRAM TICKET
Ride the tram to the top of the mountain to hike the trails at the top. Ride the tram down.
ONE-WAY TRAM TICKET
Hike a trail up to the top of the mountain. Ride the tram down.
The Trails
| TRAM | TRAIL NAME | DISTANCE | ELEVATION | DESCRIPTION | DIFFICULTY |
 | La Luz Trail | 7.5 Miles | +3572 Feet | Begins at La Luz Trailhead and ends at the Crest Trail 130 near the Sandia Peak Tram Upper Terminal. The La Luz Trail is one of the best known trails in the Sandia Mountains. It is also one of the most challenging. The trail goes from hot desert landscape to cool Hudsonian forest, for a length of 7.5 miles one way. MORE |  |
 | Peak Nature Trail | .3 Miles | +30 Feet | A short nature trail to give visitors an overview of the ecosystems the tram lives within. Many signs are available to guide passengers to the loop, and more information can be attained at the tram upper terminal. There are occasionally rangers available to give visitors tours during the summer months. |  |
| Kiwanis Cabin | 2 Miles | +301 Feet | Head north on Crest Trail #130 from the Sandia Peak Tramway upper terminal for .8 miles, where you will come to Kiwanis Cabin Trail on the left. It’s another .2 miles to the cabin. | |
| Pino Trail | 6.5 Miles | +3918 Feet | The Pino trail begins in the Sandia Mountain Wilderness Area and heads east towards the mountain. The lower portion of the trail is within a desert landscape, whereas the upper portion enters a mountainous landscape with taller pine trees that afford ample shade. Once reaching the mountain crest, the trail will intersect the Crest Trail , which you can take north to the Sandia Peak Tramway upper terminal for a ride down. |  |
| South Peak | 6.5 Miles | +2100 Feet | Head south from the upper tram terminal on South Crest Trail #130, where you will descend 1100 feet for the next 1.5 miles, and then ascend another 1000 feet over the next 5 miles. After about 6 miles on the South Crest Trail, you will pass the south peak. Continue on for about a third of a mile before coming across a faint path that heads west through an open meadow, where you will intersect another trail after about three hundred yards. Take the path to the north for another third of a mile, back towards the peak. Head back the way you came to take the tramway back down the mountain. | |
| Domingo Baca | 4 Miles | +3543 Feet | Begins in desert eco zone and moves upwards to cooler zones with shady trees. This trail is used to access the wreckage of a TWA flight that crashed in 1955. The trail goes all the way to the crest, but becomes much more difficult past the plane wreckage. |  |
TRAIL
DISTANCE
DIFFICULTY
La Luz Trail
7.5 Miles
Elevation
+3572 Feet
Description
Begins at La Luz Trailhead and ends at the Crest Trail 130 near the Sandia Peak Tram Upper Terminal. The La Luz Trail is one of the best known trails in the Sandia Mountains. It is also one of the most challenging. The trail goes from hot desert landscape to cool Hudsonian forest, for a length of 7.5 miles one way. MORE
Peak Nature Trail
.3 Miles
Elevation
+30 Feet
Description
A short nature trail to give visitors an overview of the ecosystems the tram lives within. Many signs are available to guide passengers to the loop, and more information can be attained at the tram upper terminal. There are occasionally rangers available to give visitors tours during the summer months.
Kiwanis Cabin
2 Miles
Elevation
+301 Feet
Description
Head north on Crest Trail #130 from the Sandia Peak Tramway upper terminal for .8 miles, where you will come to Kiwanis Cabin Trail on the left. It’s another .2 miles to the cabin.
Pino Trail
6.5 Miles
Elevation
+3918 Feet
Description
The Pino trail begins in the Sandia Mountain Wilderness Area and heads east towards the mountain. The lower portion of the trail is within a desert landscape, whereas the upper portion enters a mountainous landscape with taller pine trees that afford ample shade. Once reaching the mountain crest, the trail will intersect the Crest Trail , which you can take north to the Sandia Peak Tramway upper terminal for a ride down.
South Peak
6.5 Miles
Elevation
+2100 Feet
Description
Head south from the upper tram terminal on South Crest Trail #130, where you will descend 1100 feet for the next 1.5 miles, and then ascend another 1000 feet over the next 5 miles. After about 6 miles on the South Crest Trail, you will pass the south peak. Continue on for about a third of a mile before coming across a faint path that heads west through an open meadow, where you will intersect another trail after about three hundred yards. Take the path to the north for another third of a mile, back towards the peak. Head back the way you came to take the tramway back down the mountain.
Domingo Baca
4 Miles
Elevation
+3543 Feet
Description
Begins in desert eco zone and moves upwards to cooler zones with shady trees. This trail is used to access the wreckage of a TWA flight that crashed in 1955. The trail goes all the way to the crest, but becomes much more difficult past the plane wreckage.
EASIEST
EASY
MODERATE
MODERATELY DIFFICULT
DIFFICULT
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
For additional hiking and trail information, check out friendsofthesandias.org
WHAT TO BRING
JACKET, SUNSCREEN, WATER, SUNGLASSES
The temperature at the top is always cooler, so come prepared. The weather can change quickly, so temperatures can be very hot, and very cool and precipitation is possible!
No need to worry, if you forgot warm clothing or water, our
Sandia Tram Gift Shop has you covered!
