Jerry L - Feb 7, 2024 5:39 am Date Climbed: Jan 6, 2024
I Cheated Too
Drove up in my Jeep with a friend and my 2 dogs on a cold, blustery day. Lots of snow & ice on the way up. I needed chains.....not crampons. It was still a fun day.
A nice morning from Challenge to switchback to cabin to crest to summit
Dundeel - Jun 14, 2023 10:07 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2023
Albuquerque Views
Drove to the top. $3 parking at all lots but federal passes are accepted. I walked out past the towers to a high bump.
LouisFasano32 - Jul 16, 2022 1:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2022
Afternoon Cimb
Summit in 3:21:36. Nice solid incline the entire hike.
johnm - Oct 21, 2021 5:14 am Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2021
From Tram via La Luz
Took the Tram up with the wife in the late afternoon. Checked out the La Luz trail to the summit. Trail and views were nice returning to to the tram just before sunset via the nature trail. Enjoyable quick round tripper.
technicolorNH - Oct 7, 2020 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2020
La Luz Trail
Was dealing with a cold and coming from the lowlands so it took a whopping 3.5 hours to climb this well designed trail. This might have been the first time I ever felt altitude sickness since I actually had a headache, which has never happened in the mountains before. No matter, the views to the west were spectacular and the trail itself is very forgiving. The summit restaurant and shop appear to be closed for the season.
ericnoel - Sep 10, 2020 5:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2020
Sandia Crest
Short and easy.
Kiefer - Oct 20, 2019 4:28 am Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2019
Great place
Some cool trails in the area. Various rock, good climbing on the Thumb. Though I'm not so sure about some of the ratings.
Need to get back to check out the Shield.
Pretty easy when you can park a couple hundred feet away. There were some other people who parked at the base of the stairs and walked up and they were complaining about how tough the stairs were. Yikes
larvitar - Sep 2, 2016 1:25 am Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2016
A dream fulfilled
I'd wanted to climb the Sandias ever since my parents took me up the tram at age 12. Back then the mountains looked impossibly stark and rocky (to an Appalachian kid like me), but after tackling Mt. Washington and Katahdin earlier this summer, La Luz felt like a walk in the park (a very long one, though...). Beautiful weather all the way up; on the way down a thunderstorm swept up from the valley and just barely missed me. All in all, it was a great hike, one I hope to take my (still hypothetical) kids on someday.
The views from the top of this peak were spectacular, and fun to see the valley and Albuquerque below! Thanks New Mexico for the enchantment!
jdzaharia - Oct 13, 2014 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2014
La Luz Trail
Hiked up with my wife and brother-in-law. Great views all the way. Busy summit. Rode in the car with my wife's parents on the way down.
Tracy - May 31, 2014 8:52 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2014
with crutches and an ankle compressionboot (and a rental car)
I had planned to hike Wheeler Peak on this trip to New Mexico, but due to a recently sprained ankle I had to change my itinerary, so I settled for Sandia Crest via the road. My wife was with me and she enjoyed the mode of travel used to get to the top.
Senad Rizvanovic - Nov 11, 2013 8:44 am Date Climbed: Nov 10, 2013
La Luz Trail
Via La Luz trail, long day on this mountain, great views from the top.
Flew out to ABQ from DAL to do this hike. What a gorgeous trail. Started at the lower tram and connected to La Luz Trail from there. Ended up with about 11.5 miles and 5000 feet of total elevation gain. Fun FUN day!!
Jerry L - Feb 7, 2024 5:39 am Date Climbed: Jan 6, 2024
I Cheated TooDrove up in my Jeep with a friend and my 2 dogs on a cold, blustery day. Lots of snow & ice on the way up. I needed chains.....not crampons. It was still a fun day.
Foxy Long Bottoms - Aug 22, 2023 1:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2023
From the EastA nice morning from Challenge to switchback to cabin to crest to summit
Dundeel - Jun 14, 2023 10:07 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2023
Albuquerque ViewsDrove to the top. $3 parking at all lots but federal passes are accepted. I walked out past the towers to a high bump.
LouisFasano32 - Jul 16, 2022 1:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2022
Afternoon CimbSummit in 3:21:36. Nice solid incline the entire hike.
johnm - Oct 21, 2021 5:14 am Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2021
From Tram via La LuzTook the Tram up with the wife in the late afternoon. Checked out the La Luz trail to the summit. Trail and views were nice returning to to the tram just before sunset via the nature trail. Enjoyable quick round tripper.
technicolorNH - Oct 7, 2020 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2020
La Luz TrailWas dealing with a cold and coming from the lowlands so it took a whopping 3.5 hours to climb this well designed trail. This might have been the first time I ever felt altitude sickness since I actually had a headache, which has never happened in the mountains before. No matter, the views to the west were spectacular and the trail itself is very forgiving. The summit restaurant and shop appear to be closed for the season.
ericnoel - Sep 10, 2020 5:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2020
Sandia CrestShort and easy.
Kiefer - Oct 20, 2019 4:28 am Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2019
Great placeSome cool trails in the area. Various rock, good climbing on the Thumb. Though I'm not so sure about some of the ratings.
Need to get back to check out the Shield.
jdmorehouse - Jun 25, 2019 5:16 am
Pleasant DayBeautiful weather, not much of a summit experience after all the hiking, haha. Great views, though.
Super Dave - Jun 15, 2019 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2019
Quick HikeStarted at Ellis TH to make for a sporting 2 mile hike, mostly on snow. Trip Report
pingzingr - Aug 13, 2018 8:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2017
La Luz TrailGreat hike up to the top via La Luz Trail. Checked off a block for our Albuquerque time. We miss our Southwest home.
wannabepeakbagger - Apr 30, 2018 1:47 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2018
Walked up the stairsPretty easy when you can park a couple hundred feet away. There were some other people who parked at the base of the stairs and walked up and they were complaining about how tough the stairs were. Yikes
kcoakley - Jul 22, 2017 11:38 am
La LuuuzzzWith crampons
larvitar - Sep 2, 2016 1:25 am Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2016
A dream fulfilledI'd wanted to climb the Sandias ever since my parents took me up the tram at age 12. Back then the mountains looked impossibly stark and rocky (to an Appalachian kid like me), but after tackling Mt. Washington and Katahdin earlier this summer, La Luz felt like a walk in the park (a very long one, though...). Beautiful weather all the way up; on the way down a thunderstorm swept up from the valley and just barely missed me. All in all, it was a great hike, one I hope to take my (still hypothetical) kids on someday.
utahguy058 - Apr 12, 2015 8:40 pm Date Climbed: Apr 10, 2015
The Views From HereThe views from the top of this peak were spectacular, and fun to see the valley and Albuquerque below! Thanks New Mexico for the enchantment!
jdzaharia - Oct 13, 2014 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2014
La Luz TrailHiked up with my wife and brother-in-law. Great views all the way. Busy summit. Rode in the car with my wife's parents on the way down.
Tracy - May 31, 2014 8:52 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2014
with crutches and an ankle compressionboot (and a rental car)I had planned to hike Wheeler Peak on this trip to New Mexico, but due to a recently sprained ankle I had to change my itinerary, so I settled for Sandia Crest via the road. My wife was with me and she enjoyed the mode of travel used to get to the top.
Senad Rizvanovic - Nov 11, 2013 8:44 am Date Climbed: Nov 10, 2013
La Luz TrailVia La Luz trail, long day on this mountain, great views from the top.
Woodswalker - Nov 9, 2013 1:09 pm
Sandia Peak1983. Enjoyable hike. Windy at the top. Didn't see anyone except some guy playing the guitar on a rock.
TJ311 - Sep 17, 2013 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2013
Awesome Day HikeFlew out to ABQ from DAL to do this hike. What a gorgeous trail. Started at the lower tram and connected to La Luz Trail from there. Ended up with about 11.5 miles and 5000 feet of total elevation gain. Fun FUN day!!