When we drove Hwy 165 through the Cibola National Forest in mid-February, we saw fewer than five vehicles on the road. On that visit, we turned south on NM-536. You can read about our journey in Sandia Cave and New Mexico Hwy 165. In late March, we returned to the forest to see the changes and drove all the way to the Sandia Crest.
There was a steady traffic flow on Hwy 165. Since almost all the snow had melted, cars that would not have attempted the drive earlier in the year were driving through the forest to reach the Sandia Crest Byway.
When we reached the area we visited in February, we pulled over to check it out. The snow had melted, and the ground and trees were starting to green up. This time our dogs, Max and Sadie, were with us. They were excited to get out and explore.
Reaching the end of Hwy 165, we turned northwest on NM-536 and headed to the crest. It was great to be off the gravel and on the pavement again. NM-536, also known as the Sandia Crest Byway, is the highest scenic drive in the southwest.
NM-536 is a very winding road, with many switchbacks. By the time we reached the parking lot at the crest, Sadie’s little tummy had had enough. Taking her out of her crate, we saw she’d gotten sick.
There is a $5.00 fee to park at the crest. You’ll need cash to place in the envelope available in the parking lot. After parking in the lower of the two lots, we climbed the steps to the observation deck. The steps leading from the lower parking lot to the observation deck were a little snow and ice-covered, and we had to step carefully.
From the upper lot, it’s a short walk to the crest and amazing views of the mountains and the valley below.
The observation deck is two miles above sea level and one mile above the surrounding countryside. There are public restrooms, a restaurant, and a gift shop at the crest. The crest is also home to communications and radio towers.
The Sandia Mountains do not have a summit. The high point is the long Sandia Crest ridge. At 10,678 feet in elevation, the vegetation here is different from Albuquerque, about 4,500 feet below.
After leaving the platform, it was time to get the dogs on the trail. We followed the trail along the limestone outcrops on the ridge. In this picture, you can see the Sandia Crest House in the distance.
The trail is paved until it reaches the wooded area. After that, it is a packed dirt trail.
Unfortunately, the dirt trail into the wooded area was partly snow-covered and muddy on the day we visited.
We decided to keep ourselves and the dogs clean and skip the trail.
Even though we didn’t walk the trail, we were still glad we drove to the crest.
Being from the mid-west, we are always amazed at the fantastic views of the mountains and, especially, from the mountains.
Luckily, that wasn’t the last time we visited the Sandia Crest and the Cibola National Forest. We returned a few years later when Andy took another assignment in Rio Rancho.
It was spring, and the snow was almost gone.
Visiting the Sandia Crest in May
On a clear day in early May, we headed once again to the Crest. Our lives had changed a bit since the last time we made this journey. Our older dog, Max, was no longer with us. Little Sadie has adapted and has become quite the hiker on her own.
Once again, we stopped at the high point in a tight switchback curve on Hwy 165. For your reference, here is our truck parked on the road leading to the hilltop.
It was a beautiful day, and the traffic to the Crest was much heavier than on our previous visits. It took a little longer; however, the scenery along the route made up for the slower progress. After parking and paying our fee, we headed towards the trails.
We walked along the Crest TR 130 until we reached the turn for the Nature Trail. We then followed the Crest Spur TR No 84. It was a nice hike through the woods. We found a few patches of snow, but not enough to stop the three of us from completing the trail. There is a steep staircase on the trail, so you may want to avoid this portion of the trail if you have trouble with steps.
If you would like more information about the Sandia Crest Trails, you can check them out at SandiaCrestTrails.
Peggy Staver, the author of this blog, is a freelance copywriter specializing in outdoor recreation and hospitality. You can contact her at PSCopywriting.com. The majority of photos are taken by Photography by Andreas. Visit his portfolio here.
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