The Sandia Mountains in New Mexico are an absolute showstopper. From the moment I started the drive up the scenic Tramway, the views just kept getting better--rolling deserts giving way to lush forests and jagged peaks that stretch toward the sky. At the top, the panoramic vistas take your breath away. Whether hiking, snapping photos, or just soaking in the cool mountain air, it feels like you're on top of the world. The sunsets? Legendary. Friendly hikers, peaceful trails, and that feeling of being totally unplugged make Sandia Mountains a must-visit. Five stars for pure natural magic. read more

They have several trails to choose from 5 dollar a day for parking pass and they have picnic areas had a few bathrooms really nice scenery and good for bikes or hiking read more

Sandia Mountains - Spring trail I think this one was - Hiking Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Such a treasure of the Southwest! I've spent countless hours hiking the foothills and along the rim and the views never get old! A true gem of our city! read more

Sandia Mountains - Hiking Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Seeing the Sandía Mountains and hiking them/ climbing them, were always part of my bucket list, but driving through I-25 was just as nice. I saw them on my way to Las Cruces, NM. We are currently 4 hours away from Albuquerque as we speak but they are massive rocks! I saw houses on the bottom of the foothills. I could Imagine how cool it would be to wake up to these beautiful views every morning. read more

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Great views from the mountains and even through the TRAM journey most people go to the top. There is a 6-mile hike too that takes 6-7 hours in total to climb mountains but definitely, we were not the ones to choose that option. TRAM takes 15 minutes for each side to go up or down. The view from the mountains is beautiful and loved it. The only reason to reduce one star is that they don't have a to-go type of restaurant. The one is there is a dine-in place and usually with a long wait time if you have not reserved. I would really love to have some or other quick food options on the top. read more

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Loved the mountains! Had a great hike. Was very windy and a lot cooler than Albuquerque. I should have brought a heavier coat

I'm newly arrived in New Mexico, and I was really excited to come check-out the Sandia Mountains. There just aren't that many places in the US that have such BIG mountain peaks right next to a large city. Tip: Drive the road up to the Crest on the East side; there's a parking lot on the left that contains the trail heads for multiple trails. There's are also restrooms available here. The Tree Spring Trail will get you to the peak, where you'll experience a truly unforgettable, panoramic view of Albuquerque. Be forewarned - there are significant winds at the top, and the temperature can be a lot cooler, but the views and the experience of the hike are totally worth it! Along with a good hike and the fantastic views, we even saw some deer and other wildlife. It's fantastic to find myself living this close to Mother Nature at her best - I'll be back! read more

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Background: I solo-hiked for ~5 miles to the peak. Started out on and finished the Pino Trail, transitioned onto the Crest Trail which f-ed me over, got lost for a while, followed the 10K, hiked below the ski-lifts (not a path) to the peak/tram house while people from the ski-lifts looked at me like I was amazon woman or something. Pino Trail: -Despite what AllTrails says, this trail is harder than a "moderate" difficulty level. Aside from being lengthy with elevation, the trail was also super uneven. -I had to literally climb over a few trees blocking the path, and also was almost stuck inbetween some random big rocks (thank god I didn't eat an extra carne adovada burrito before coming). Crest Trail: -Somewhere in the middle this terribly marked labyrinth branches into multiple paths at multiple points, which completely f***'s you over if you're looking to get to the tram house -The crest peak has a great view but is hella windy, hold on to your toddlers so they don't mary-poppins away. 10K: -One of the most well-marked and smooth trails, albeit very narrow path Ski-lift: -Not really a trail, but follow the second set of ski-lifts up the grassy hill and you'll be at the peak -Pretty steep and surprisingly exhausting to hike; and people from ski-lifts may look at you from above strangely. read more

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For anyone who has time to spend at least a full day in Albuquerque, the Sandia Mountains are well worth visiting. A tram ride will give you a spectacular view at the summit in all directions. There are lots of great hiking trails at the summit. For those who don't have the time for the tram ride (and for those who do), be sure to check out the mountains as the sun sets. It's a spectacular site to see as the colors of the mountain range change from gray to watermelon and back to gray. All this happens in a matter of minutes... so it pays to get situated well in advance with your camera ready to fire of a few shots. Some believe that the Sandia mountain range get its name the Spanish translation ("watermelon"). read more

Sandia Mountains - For a fleeting moment, the Sandia Mountain Range turns red... but you have to find a great viewing spot or you'll miss the show. - Hiking Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Sandia Mountains are the perfect backdrop to Albuquerque. They provide stunning visuals for everyone in the city, especially in the evening when they turn a dark shade of red. More importantly, the Mountains provide unlimited exercise and exploration potential. I have only gone on two Sandia Mountain hikes, but they were both excellent quality. The first hike was a hike along the ridge after driving to the top. On our drive up, we saw a group of mule deer crossing the road. The second hike started near the base of the mountain and headed to the top. We did not make the top, but it was fascinating to see the different plants at each altitude. Near the bottom it was mainly dessert brush with minimal vegetation and also an unusually high amount of broken glass. Our trailhead must've also been a favorite hangout for the local teenagers. Farther up the trail the terrain slowly transitioned into taller and taller pine trees. If I lived in Albuquerque, the Sandia Mountains would be a frequented destination. read more

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The Sandias are wonderful to look at in Albuquerque and are a marvelous place to hike and spend time in nature. We hiked at the Cienega Canyon picnic ground on our way up, then hiked a bit more at the crest. If you have an hour or two, I highly recommend at least driving up to the crest and taking in the beautiful views. read more

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Watermelon Mountains! These landmark mountains tower over Albuquerque, New Mexico. They're iconic, huge, and colorful. Nobody ever gets lost in ABQ, since the mountains are always to your east. You can't miss 'em! I heard that the Sandia Mountains were 'discovered' by the conquistador, Cortez as he was looking for the Lost City of Gold. He came here thinking he'd found a solid gold mountain, because of the way the sun reflects off of it, it really does look like gold sometimes. But by sunset, the sun started throwing all kinds of shade on his plans, lighting up the mountains in the typical Albuquerque evening sun scape: screaming shades of reds, blues and purples thrown on the mountain's face, that it ended up looking like a slice of watermelon, with the green trees at the top providing the rind of the watermelon, and all the black bears making up the 'seeds.' However, Howie's alternative explanation sounds more plausible- that conquistadors thought the gourds were watermelons... There's plenty of fun stuff to do with the Sandias- hiking and mountain climbing are popular around here. You can go skiing at the slope on the backside of the mountain. If hiking isn't your thing, there's the world's longest tramway to take you to the top, where there's magnificent views and a fancy restaurant. If you ask me, the Sandia Mountains are best approached from the back, where it's a smoother slope with less shear cliffs to fall off. If you go in the summertime with a bike, the ski slope will give you a lift to the top so you can roll down (for a fee.) Watch out for bears! Atlas Obscura lists the plane crash that you can go tour in the Sandias as one of the things to visit. It's part of an old TWA flight that didn't see the mountain after takeoff and they never removed all the debris, due to the remoteness of the area. It's semi-visible from the tram. Contrary to the name, I've never ever seen a watermelon growing here. read more

One of my absolute favorite places to hike, especially in the autumn, when the leaves are a gorgeous gradient of red, orange, and yellow hues. The views are breathtaking, with many opportunities to glance over the cliff from the Crest Trail. It gets a little chilly this time of year, so a jacket is typically a must (unless you're a brisk hiker and move fast). I initially came here as part of a class at the University of NM, but ended up loving it so much, I had to return on my own. I've since taken the tram up ($20 round-trip for those under 20), and also taken the ski-lift up ($12/round trip) and both were very enjoyable, in their own respects. Now, I must say, if you have to try the restaurant at the top of the peak, for the "experience," then do it. But don't expect the top of the line restaurant material from up there... there's a reason why their reviews are relatively low. It's just mediocre food. You're paying mainly for the experience, of eating at the top of the Sandia, if anything. My friend paid $12 for an O-K turkey sandwich meal. Definitely coming back when it starts snowing this winter, for the views, however. read more

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Always a gorgeous view as you start to make your way up the Sandias. I've taken the tram up, as well as hiking La Luz and there's no wrong way to do it. There's not many places in the USA where there is such an enormous mountain right next to a large city. Take advantage of the many things that the Sandia Mountains offer you. You can even grab a bite to eat and a drink at the top. Notes: Bring a jacket even if it's hot outside, the temperature at the top of the mountain is much cooler than it is in ABQ. Bring some water and a snack. If you're hiking up the mountain good footwear is absolutely necessary. read more

Sandia Mountains - From the top of Kiwana's Cabin atop Sandia's peak. What a view! - Hiking Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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I came to Albuquerque to see my son over Thanksgiving weekend. One of the things u wanted to do was hike in the Sandias. My son took me to the Embudito trail. I'm in pretty decent shape for a 57 year old. I bike over 2,000 miles each summer. Coming from Ohio, I wasn't ready for the altitude change. Let me tell you, that trail kicked my butt. It did provide me with beautiful vistas and I liked the three "zones" of the trail. My favorite zone was when we hit the coniferous zone. I think before I go back, I'll mix in some stair master with the biking. read more

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Gorgeous. Beautiful. What more needs to be said? It was too cold to do any hiking, but I hope to be able go back and enjoy them more! read more

Hiked the Piedra Lisa trail this morning. It is a good steady uphill climb, but you are rewards with views into the mountains and back towards the city the whole way up the trail. The views from the top are superb. We went at 7:30 and there were already a number of people on the trail. It was getting really busy as we were on our way back down. read more

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We're so geeky about our mountains. The closest coastline is some 600 miles away, but you know, who needs water when you have mountains that turn 50 shades of violet every evening? For the uninitiated: sandia is watermelon in Spanish. The name likely came from Spaniards who visited the area and misinterpreted what the pueblos were growing in their gardens. From Wikipedia: "The Spaniards, when they encountered the Pueblo in 1540, called it Sandia, because they thought the squash [gourds] growing there were watermelons, and the name Sandia soon was transferred to the mountains east of the pueblo." So says historian Robert Julyan. Today, people in the 505 completely embrace this title and get mighty excited when the sun begins to set in the west, because this impressive rock wall indeed turns a purplish color, and near the top a band of white frames the entire view in a kind of natural rind. The landscape is gorgeous, and it softens the otherwise hard or even harsh, dry soil and city below. My favorite view comes as the moon rises on those rare nights, the orb shocking in pure blanco brilliance, so big it bathes our desert hub in peaceful, glorious light. One of my favorite people, the guy who told me to move here, told me nearly 20 years ago that I should never spend a day in Albuquerque without appreciating our mountains. He was right, and I don't. It's kind of my daily prayer, actually. I recognize that I love them, I navigate life with them (they're the east), I hike them (love La Luz), ride them (Tramway), and as mentioned, always wish them goodnight. Dry and cumbersome, these mountains invite the adventurous, and reward those who seek new climates. Mountain Lion and bear roam the upper crust, so watch your back. Geek out, ABQ. The Sandias are a great reason to live in the 505. read more

The best thing about living in Albuquerque was getting to drive up Sandia. Sandia, which means watermelon in Spanish, does often turn pink during sunset. The drive up takes around an hour from the Albuquerque. It has many switchback, and sharp turns, you will be breaking the whole way down. There are many hiking trails that suit all levels of fitness, and time allotments. A trail that is harder to access goes to an old plane crash site. I have not yet climbed the full mountain, but it is a great way to spend part of the day. Conditions and temperatures can be very different and change quickly from what is going on a could thousand feet lower. Bring warm things to layer if the weather changes. It costs 3-4$ to park your car, bring dollar dollar bills yo. read more

Very beautiful. Went with a friend we hiked up and down two mountains. Took us about 4.5 hours. Very beautiful area looked about the tramway the ski lifts, the sandia house. Everything was green and lovely. read more

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Amazing, amazing. There's something extremely comforting being on Nob Hill and looking down the street and knowing you're wrapped in the arms of these wonderful mountains. You can look for a warm hug any time you need it. They also remind me why this place is so special. Hiking the mountains is a different kind of special, but just as important. You can learn something from being among the clouds. Peacefulness, serenity, knowledge. Climb them for yourself and you'll learn the lessons of the Sandia Mountains. At the top, you look down at Albuquerque... and it's something else. Something beautiful and necessary that every Albuquerquian should go check out and live. You'll appreciate your city on a whole new level! Where I'm from everything is flat. There's hardly an incline anywhere. I have to drive a couple of hours to get to the nearest major forest area/hills. Being here, with an eye toward the ever-changing, shape-shifting (they never seem to look the same way..) mountains, is one of the most memorable parts to me about being in Albuquerque. read more

Absolutely beautiful! During sunset is the best time to visit! The light from the sun reflects off these amazing mountains showing the beautiful shades of pink which soon turn to a violet color as the sun disappears! read more