Beginning from the parking area off Carlito Springs Road, this trail heads steadily uphill via Carlito Springs Loop Trail. The main highlight of this trail is the tranquil freshwater springs. There are also some lovely views, looking out across the nearby neighborhoods to the distant mountains. In spring, this area is a great place to see a variety of different wildflowers in bloom. The three springs are for visual pleasure only and are covered in algae. It gives a nice surreal feel to them and we got great pictures. It was still cool when we set off, took us 60 years olds 40 mins with stops to catch our breath. At the top you can continue on the 1.8 loop back to the car park. We retraced our steps coming down and it was not even 20 mins. read more

Carlito Springs - Lord of the Pools - Hiking Near Me - Cedar Crest, New Mexico

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Unique and pretty hiking spot close to ABQ. The hike itself is pretty easy, so good for beginners. My husband carried our 3 month old twins while hiking, without any problems. We also passed a good number of families and pups. The spring itself has signs that say for viewing only- so be sure to stay clear of the springs. Although it'd be nice to dip our feet in I'm glad they are prioritizing the springs itself. read more

Carlito Springs - Spring - Hiking Near Me - Cedar Crest, New Mexico

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One of my friends is about to move away so we have been going through her bucket list of local things to do in Carlito Springs was on that list. I know it has been closed for a few years, but it's finally re-opened and a highly recommendable lite hike in the east mountains. When starting the trek, go left for a milder hike and right for the longer route that features some cool view points. The springs are small, but definitely worth the short hike. You also get some really great views from the top. They have really nice bathrooms, which isn't always the case for these kinds of recreation areas. The heck, with dog friendly we brought multiple dogs and saw a few on the way. read more

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Just 20 minutes east of Tramway Blvd off of IH40; Carlitos Springs Open Space is an amazing escape from city life. Check their website for a map of the 1.8 mile loop showing 2 different parking areas. Millions of dollars of improvements to the trail have been made over the last few years. There's lots of signs to point your way. Most elevation changes are gradual; trail in my opinion is easy to moderate. Plenty of shade and areas to rest if needed. Don't miss the trail to the 3 spring fed pools; they were my favorite part! read more

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I have gone back after it being closed for while. They have done some work at the top of the trail and it is a nice place to visit. The hike is a nice easy hike and if you take both trails it's about 3 mile round trip. read more

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Short hike - 90 minutes - not strenuous. Very nice views at the top plus the springs our nice.

A very nice simple hike for a day when you want to get some fresh air and exercise. The parking lot we arrived at from directions from the GPS was small. I don't know if there are any other parking lots but if not, you have to almost get lucky to find a spot. We did not see many people during our time here and other reviews sound like it is still a lesser known spot so it might not be too bad. If you are looking for the springs in the photos on Google when you search "Carlito Springs" it is to the left when you arrive at the fork from the parking lot. We got lucky with our rock, paper, scissor to go left. When you reach the cabins that have been bolted shut is when you have arrived at the springs. Continue walking straight, right of the cabins, and you will see the spring when you peek down between the trees. The water really is crystal clear! There is moss on the rocks in the water and little water bugs floating at the top but other than that, it was very nice. There was also a pool net that you can use to clear the water from debris yourself. There is also another little spring right below the main one but I felt that one had more moss making me not want to put my feet in there. It is a very good place to come and relax. The only bugs I really saw besides the ones floating in the water are dragon flies. read more

Came here on a Monday and had no trouble parking. I went left and took the steeper, shadier side to the springs. The trail was well-marked. The springs were pretty cold and the lower ones were a little mossy, but I was still able to stick my feet in. Only negative is that you can see/hear the interstate from the top. I took the other part of the loop down, and enjoyed that side as well. It is a little more exposed, as others have mentioned, but it was cool enough in November to not be an issue, and there were small trees throughout. There were some nice views near the top you wouldn't want to miss. read more

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This place is so beautiful! A real gem located close to Albuquerque. We took our 4yo and 4 month old up here today. The hike is very child friendly. We hiked both sides of the trail and highly recommend taking the left trail where it is more shaded. This trail is also shorter but is much steeper. The views from both trails and Carlito Springs itself are amazing. I was surprised though that we could hear the interstate traffic the whole time. The trails were quite busy. When we got there the parking lot was full so rather than park on an already narrow barely two lane gravel road, we opted to park off the road and walk the 0.3 miles to the trailhead. The parking lot is very small but if you went during the week, I bet you won't have any problem parking, I would say to plan on spending several hours up there to explore the grounds. The signs say that you are not allowed to swim or let pets go in the springs. Just about every dog we saw up there was wet and there were people playing in the springs. There are a couple of picnic tables at the top if you want to pack a picnic. There are also trash cans and portable toilets. I will go back for sure. I can't wait to see what it will be like once phase 2 is done and the cabins are open. read more

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Wow. Can't believe how close this is to town, how easy it is to get to, how chill it is to hike (especially with kids, mine are 8, 6 & 4) and how delightful it is at the top. Don't miss out on this one! Take the left trail for plenty of shade, i visited at the end of June at 10am, it was perfect weather, not too hot, lots of flowers. The pools are crystal clear, refreshing this time of year! read more

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All the reviews are correct. This place is an oasis from the norms of New Mexico. The hike is a bit steep, but in the shade, and the views are great. Take the left trail, and enjoy. read more

Carlito Springs - Old abandoned cabins at the top. - Hiking Near Me - Cedar Crest, New Mexico

Fantastic short hike! Everyone says "Go left", but I think going right first was a good idea. Start right, enjoy the hike and view up, then head down left after taking time to see everything! It's totally worth it! read more

Great hike. We've taken the kids and pups. The climb up can be a bit of a workout but man is it worth it when you get to the top! Beautiful view. read more

Nice mountain hike, close to town, good for quick mid-week-get-away. A bit strenuous at points. Early morning best, go right at trailhead and sun is behind you at that time of day. That way you come back down in the shade as the day warms up! Keep your dogs on a leash! Lots of cactus and loose rock near some edges of the narrowest sections. Parking lot is small. read more

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I've lived here my entire life and was told about Carlito Springs. Very glad I took the time.. .it is gorgeous up there and an easy hike, even the long route, for beginners. Takes about 2 hours with a few stops to enjoy the views. Take some water and a snack and dip your feet in one of several pools. read more

Carlito Springs - Hiking Near Me - Cedar Crest, New Mexico

Great short hike, close to Albuquerque! Very easy 2 mile loop, well marked and not too crowded on a perfect March day. read more

Carlito Springs - Hiking Near Me - Cedar Crest, New Mexico

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The information posted from 5/22/19 is incorrect. The County closed this Open Space property in March, 2018 for Phase I renovations. Phase II has been approved and is expected to be completed by early 2022. read more

This a great spot, not far from ABQ and relatively easy to get to. Parking is tight. The complete loop is just under 2 miles. From the parking lot, the route to the right is about 1.3 miles. The route to the left is about .6 miles. I like to go to the right on the way up, and enjoy all the shade on the way down. read more

This is such a New Mexico review. So this hiking trail (which I timed precisely 22 minutes from my driveway to the small, packed lot in the mountains just south of Tijeras) is terrifically unique around these parts, particularly because it features a lot of natural beauty that's otherwise, well, pretty much non-existent around here. When you approach the trail, you'll note you can choose-your-own-adventure, it's a loop. Go left. No no, not right, that's the dry, full-sun, cactus strewn plain ol' New Mexican route. Go left. Let me tell you what's behind the door on the left, and why you won't find this on most hikes: + Shade. Lots and lots of it. I saw plenty of oak, some birch, and a lot of pine. + Ivy. The climbing kind, cloaking trees, blanketing slopes. So green, man. And don't wander off the path, because there's plenty of poison ivy, too. Me and that three leaf blister monster have a history, and believe me, it's no fun. + Wild flowers. Everywhere. High desert wildflowers tend to be sparse, unless we've had a ton of rain; around here, they're decadent, gorgeous. + The sound of something gurgling, right next to you, along the entire mile-and-a-half-ish walk. + A well marked and maintained path, as well as area information. Sure, you say, but isn't that typical? Hardly. In New Mexico, trailheads are often unmarked, and often trails themselves are difficult to navigate. + Transparent liquid stuff. Visitors identify it as "water". I think it's the stuff that gurgles. At the top, there are several pools of said "water", atop the terraced rock ridges you'll pass as you head up. And the summit is indeed best described as an oasis. An abandoned home and some cabins reside in a place that could be our closest shot at Narnia. As I mentioned, if you take the rest of the loop, you'll quickly find yourself removed from this lush Otherworld, and back to sunburnville. Just to put this in perspective, though: my wife went to Kauai last summer, and as I was marveling at the near sensuous beauty of Carlito Springs, she said, "You know, in Hawaii this is pretty much, well, everywhere." read more

This is one I had no clue existed! It's a nice little hike and take about an hour to complete. The real shocking thing is to see the springs of water! Who knew that pools of water from a natural source would exist here? The only thing that you should be aware of is that it's becoming popular. It was a little crowded with everyone trying to dip their feet in the springs. Dogs and children all over with barking and screaming galore! It's still a nice spot and I definitely recommend the trail! read more

Wow! My neighbors told me about this hike and it exceeded expectations. I didn't find the trail or terrain difficult, and even if I did, the springs and structures at top of the trail would quickly make up for it. I like that this is a loop and you can hike up and not have to backtrack on the way down. read more

What a cool place! We came here for a trail run and were pleasantly surprised by the old buildings and apple orchards. They almost gave off a "haunted" vibe and were fun to explore, although you can't go inside the structures. We were disappionted that the entire loop was so short (just under two miles), but it's the perfect hike for families and pets. We also enjoyed the cooler temps in the summer time (as opposed to Albuququerque), and it's just a 20 minute drive away. read more

It's a little short but it's great for the state! Pools of water looks amazing and views are great!

Such a beautiful hike among the changing of the leaves for fall. Not too hard, not too easy, great payoff at the end. We took the steeper, shorter route and loved walking along the little creek that trickled nearby. Thoughts of when this place was in its heyday... then peered out to the horizon and saw the plant across the way, that could be why it hasn't been revitalized, it takes over most of the view. But anyhow, it was a beautiful place... kids completing Scout projects, snakes in the basin, water trickling at every turn. We will bring out of towners to this one for sure! read more

Awesome place! Liesurely hike with kids and/or dogs. The springs are beautiful and serene. The views at the top are amazing. Worth checking out! read more

This place is so cool! I've lived in NM for almost my whole life and have driven by this place many times and didn't even know it was there. The history behind it is interesting as well. Very cool. read more

Great place to hike. We walk our dogs up for exercise from our house. Place is extraordinary. I can't imagine what it was like to live up there. The views and springs are unique beyond belief. read more

This hike is GREAT, although if you're with young kids or have trouble walking uphill and/or on uneven trails, this is not a hike for you. The scenery is gorgeous, and the abandoned former TB sanctuary is fascinating. Be sure to research the history beforehand. Word of warning: we decided to take the sunny route back, but got lost/took a wrong turn and ended up on the other side of the mountain. YIKES. read more

Easy to find...and the views are beautiful. The springs were cool, too. Not the best marked trail but easy to follow. Go left at the fork first then right...so it's not so steep uphill. read more