We ended up here by mistake when we were trying to find the Sandia peak tram. We ended up at the peak but not by tram. The view at the top however was worth the drive. We got here right before sunset and it was beautiful. It is much colder and windy so make sure and pack a coat and maybe head covering.
Worth the drive or the walk. Avoid noon to three on hot days. Wear hiking boots and bring water. Great views of the valley and wildlife.
From the city side there isn't a lot of access via road, the best place was from the Sandia Peak Tramway, the terminal at the bottom is in the park, and has access to a trail to the top. Great for hiking, huge boulders, great view. Take lots of water, its a desert. Stay time is dependent on what you do, you could hike to the top of the mountain in a few hours, or wander the lower trails in less than an hour. No bikes on the trails.
Love exploring all the trails. Views are spectacular. Wish I had more time to send on the trails. Also great for biking, running, hiking etc.
The view from the Tram is super. The Tram was terribly crowded but it was the holidays. The forest is visible from Sandia Peak.
Love driving the winding roads from Albuquerque to the top of Sandia mountains. Nothing more peaceful than hiking around on the well-groomed trails and seeing the stone house and seeing snow in the fall with the aspen quaking golden leaves. A favorite place to me for sure.
The forest provides lots of space to run and explore. There are camping, hiking, and picnic areas for all levels of family activities. Hiking for all levels of experience.
We went for a hike in the lower area, through the foothills. A great place to walk. Lots of mountain bikers - everyone was friendly and it was a great holiday hike.
I loved this walk althought it was not easy. Uneven paths, rocks, mean cacti that can pellet your pants, shoes and skin with tiny but hard to remove needles. Parking was free, but I did not see any other facilities nearby.
If you want a good escape from Albuquerque be sure to hit the hiking trails at the base of the Sandia Mountains. There are many hiking trails that enter the national forest in which you can get away from fast pace of the city. The trails range from easy to hard in intensity. I recommend getting hiking trail maps from the Cibola national forest ranger station. Be sure to bring water with you.