Sandia Mountains Hiking Adventures

Education Through Observation

2020-2021 (updated Apr 10, 2021)

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. – Psa 90:2 

Day-hikes for youth and adults capable of hiking about six hours in moderate mountain terrain.  Group size limited to 12 people. 

Please RSVP – info@nmsciencefoundation.org.

Bring water, hat, snacks, and lunch.  Bring poncho in case of rain on the trail.  Most of the trails are sheltered by trees and pace will be easy.  Hikes may be canceled for inclement weather (ten day forecast) or fire restrictions (Sandia Ranger District).  Look for cancellations posted on this website.

• Hiking prep - Sandia Mtns

• Hiking prep - get in shape

Be sure to RSVP if planning to hike.

Hikes may be cancelled due to inclement weather or fire restrictions

• Sat, Oct 17, 2020 (La Luz Trail)

  • Theme: Historic La Luz Trail www.laluztrail.com

  • Departure: La Luz trailhead

  • Destination: Sandia Peak Tram
    http://sandiapeak.com/index.php?page=tram-hours-of-operation

  • Area: Hike thru four different life zones

  • Special equipment: oxygen as needed

  • Departure Time: 8am (approx 6 hours to the tram)

  • Visit Ten 3 and return on the Sandia Tram
    Special arrangement for transportation back to trailhead

• Sat, Nov 21, 2020

  • Theme: You make springs gush forth in the vadis; they flow between the hills, supplying water to all the wild animals; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. – Ps 104:10 (CJB)

  • Departure: Montecello Parking Area (free parking)

  • Carnuel exit off I-40, 1.5 mi east on old 66
    look for brown hiking sign into Montecello subdivision, north to trailhead

  • Destination: Three Gun Springs (Tres Pistoles) and crash site if interested

  • Area: Easy trail to the springs. Legend that three Spanish Conquistador pistols were found near the springs. Challenging hike to aircraft wreck from 3GS (steep and no trail). Hot dogs & marshmallows.

  • Departure Time: 9am

• Sat, Dec 19, 2020 (Carlito Springs)

  • Departure: Canyon Estates Trailhead
    limited parking so please try to carpool

  • Area: Easy, 2-mile loop, running spring water year round

  • Departure Time: 9am

• Sat, Jan 16, 2021

  • Theme: Isa 60:13  The fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary.

  • Departure: Elena Gallegos, Pino Trail Parking Area ($2 fee per car)

  • Destination: Pino Canyon, locate the airplane crash marker

  • Area: Pino means Pine in Spanish. Spruce and fir dominate the high country.
    Be prepared for snow. Hot dogs & marshmallows.

  • Departure Time: 9am (approx 4 hours)

• Sat, Feb 20, 2021 (Movie Trail)

  • Theme: Lonely are the Brave (watch the movie)

  • Trail closed Mar 1 to Aug 15 every year

  • Departure: Piedra Lisa Trailhead (N of La Luz)

  • Destination: Lonely are the Brave Geocache
    https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC178Y3_lonely-are-the-brave
    Bring your trinkets for exchange in these ammo can caches

  • Area: Trail is steep at times and difficult to see, but trackable by GPS

  • Special Treat: extensive footage of the Sandias in the movie
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056195/locations

  • Departure Time: 9am (approx 4 hours)

• Sat, Mar 20, 2021 (Post Pass)

  • Theme: Over the mountain and thru the woods

  • Departure: Three Gun Trailhead (Monticello Parking Area)

  • Destination: Embudo Canyon Parking Area (Indian School)

  • Area: Steady climb to Post Pass, then downhill to Embudo Spring

  • Special Arrangements: Vehicles at both ends

  • Departure Time: 9am (approx 4 hours)

• Sat, Apr 17, 2021 (Cienega Loop)

  • Theme: Springs of Life

  • Distance: ~ 4 mile loop

  • Departure: Sulphur Canyon parking area (between Tinkertown and Doc Long)

  • Destination: Sulphur Spring, Wolf Spring, Toro Spring, and several geocaches

  • Area: Ciénaga is a Spanish term meaning desert marsh, bog or shallow, slow-moving flow of water through dense surface vegetation. A ciénega (also spelled ciénaga) is a wetland system unique to the American Southwest. Ciénagas are alkaline, freshwater, spongy, wet meadows with shallow-gradient, permanently saturated soils in otherwise arid landscapes that often occupied nearly the entire widths of valley bottoms.

  • Visit site of most recent crash site (Nov 2015) – NTSB investigation

  • Afterglow: Visit Tinkertown Museum on the way home
    Get tickets online for 12:30p

  • Departure Time: 8am (approx 4 hours) – Daylight Savings Time

• Sat, May 1, 2021 (Family 50 Bicycle Ride)

  • Theme: Stop and Smell the Roses (Mac Davis, 1974)

  • Departure: Smith’s Parking Lot (Central & Tramway)

  • Destination: Official 50-mile loop bicycle ride around Albuquerque

  • Area: Official route modified to use southern bike routes back to Smith’s Parking Lot

  • Departure Time: 8am (approx 6 hours)

• Sat, May 8, 2021 (Bosque Peak) (rescheduled)

  • Newly added adventure. Long drive to the trailhead but worth the effort.

  • Departure: Bosque Peak Trailhead

  • Destination: cave, crash site, grave in forest, geocaches, and cabin ruins

  • Area: Gradual climb to Bosque Peak going slow to enjoy the sights

  • Departure Time: 9am (approx 6 hours)

• Sat, Jun 19, 2021

  • Theme: Father's Day

  • Departure: Elena Gallegos, Pino Trail Parking Area ($2 fee per car)

  • Destination: 1955 TWA aircraft wreck in TWA Canyon

  • Area: Variety of vegetation as hikers ascend from desert to lush forest.  Add a rock to the rock house.  Watch out for heavy poison ivy along creek bed in Dominga Baca Canyon.  
    Share some praise & worship at Worship Rock.  Enjoy peaceful Aspen Grove waterfall.  Conquer the rock wall.

  • Departure Time: 8am (approx 6 hours or make it a day to avoid heat)

• Sat, July 17, 2021

  • Theme: Landmarks in life

  • Departure: Spain Trailhead Parking Area (east end of Spain) (free parking)

  • Destination: 1941 A-17 aircraft wreck in Bear Canyon

  • Special equipment: bring gloves to protect hands from brush and rocks

  • Bring lunch.  Hot dogs provided for dinner.  Rest at Teepee until evening.  Then hike out.  
    Bring a book, a game, or just share a story.  Plan to make it a day.  

  • Area: Spectacular view of entire Bear Canyon and pristine hiking along creek bed.  View massive 50' rock monument.

  • Departure Time: 8am (approx 6 hours or make it a day to avoid heat)

• Sat, Aug 21, 2021

  • Theme: Navigation through life

  • Departure: Canyon Estates Trailhead Parking Area (north of Tijeras) (free parking)

  • Destination: 1964 Piper Commanche PA24 aircraft near Hondo Canyon - bring a GPS and practice finding coordinates

  • Area: Continuous tree cover from beginning to end. Visit Travertine Waterfall and cave. Hike a portion of the CCC trail named for the Civilian Conservation Corps who constructed the trail in the 1930s. Look for the historic tree marker on the CCC trail.

  • Departure Time: 8am (approx 6 hours)

• Mon, Sep 6, 2021

  • Theme: Pro 25:4  Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.            http://www.higherpraise.com/lyrics1/RefinersFire2.htm

  • Departure: Mystery Trailhead
    Park in area across road (Hwy 536) from trailhead (free) or,
    park at Doc Long Picnic Area about ¼ mile south ($3) and hike north to the trailhead

  • Destination: Smelter Ruins

  • Area: Barro Canyon, North Mystery Trail, Tecolote Canyon
    Study up on NM mining and discuss some geology and chemistry.
    http://agmc.info/uploads/education/new_mexico/New_Mexico_Mining_History.pdf
    https://westernmininghistory.com/state/new-mexico/
    http://agmc.info/uploads/education/new_mexico/Overview_Of_Early_Mining_History_In_New_Mexico.pdf

  • Departure Time: 9am (approx 3 hours)