Sandia Mountians Hiking Adventures

Education Through Observation

2019 (updated Aug 24)

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 cancelled for inclement weather (five day forecast) or fire restrictions (Sandia Ranger District).  Look for cancellations posted on this website or call 505 609-9609 if in doubt.

• 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, Nov 23, 2018 (day after Thanksgiving)

  • 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), aircraft wreck

  • Area: Easy trail to the springs. Legend that three Spanish Conquistador pistols were found near the springs (or picture of pistols carved into wooden water trough). Challenging hike to aircraft wreck (steep and no trail) – geocache at destination.

  • Departure Time: 8am (approx 6 hours round trip)

• Sat, Dec 15, 2018 (Carlito Springs – updated)

  • Departure: Canyon Estates Trailhead
    limited parking so carpool

  • Area: Easy, 2-mile loop, no bushwhacking
    running spring water year round

  • Departure Time: 9am (maybe some snow?)

• Sat, Jan 19, 2019

  • 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

  • Extra: Bring some marshmallows for roasting at the campfire

  • Departure Time: 9am (approx 4 hours round trip)

• Sat, Feb 16, 2019 (Movie Trail – updated)

  • Theme: Lonely are the Brave

  • 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: 9:30am (approx 4 hours round trip)

• Sat, Mar 16, 2019 (Post Pass)

  • Theme: Over the mountain and thru the woods

  • Departure: Three Gun Spring (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: 10am (approx 4 hours)

• Fri, Apr 19, 2019 (Cienega Loop, Easter weekend)

  • Theme: Springs of Life

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

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

  • 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.

  • Special Treat: Visit site of most recent Sandia crash site (Nov 2015) – NTSB investigation

  • Afterglow: Visit Tinkertown Museum on the way home

  • Departure Time: 9am (approx 6 hours round trip)

• Fri, May 10, 2019 (Family 50 Bicycle Ride)

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

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

  • Destination: 50 mile loop bicycle ride around Albuquerque

  • Area: City of Albuquerque working on connecting all the pieces.
    Most of ride on bike trails, lanes, and routes. Route modified to
    use bike routes on the southern end returning to Smith’s Parking Lot

  • Departure Time: 8am (approx 6 hours)

• Jun 15, 2019 (canceled due to injury)

  • 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 round trip or make it a day)

• July 20, 2019 (no hike – 50^th Anniversary Rocket Launch)

  • 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 round trip or make it a day)

• Sat, Aug 17, 2019

  • 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 the beginning of the hike and visit to the 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 history marker on the CCC trail.

  • Departure Time: 8am (approx 6 hours round trip)

• Mon, Sep 2, 2019 (Labor Day)

  • 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

  • Departure Time: 9am (approx 3 hours round trip)

• Sat, Oct 12, 2019 (La Luz Trail)

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

  • Last weeked of Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

  • Departure: La Luz trailhead or base of Tram

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

  • Area: Hike thru four different life zones

  • Departure Time: 8am (approx 6 hours to the tram)
    (drive from base of tram to trailhead end of day)