Cibola National Forest is the forest on the back side of the Sandia Mountains. It starts about the town of San Antonito and goes all the way up to the crest. There are plenty of hiking and camping opportunities out here. The trails are improved, for the most part, and there are great places to take in the scenery on the slopes of the mountains.
You'll be sure to see all kinds of wildlife out here. There are black bears, and you're in cougar country!
Be sure to pack your own supplies, as you're not going to find anything out here. There's no drinking fountains. At an altitude reaching 10,000 feet, come prepared with sunscreen and lots of water. It can make you short of breath if you're from just above sea level. It's always much colder out here than in the big city, so dress appropriately, even in the summer.
This park is big! There's plenty of different trails at differing levels of difficulty. Just be sure not to get lost out here, there can be some extreme weather, especially in the wintertime.
You have to pay to park throughout the forest. There are boxes at most of the parking areas. At the end of the highway, you'll find the observation point and park ranger station, where you can learn about the park's history, and the Tram, which takes you directly from the city to the apex of the mountain. read more