When we made our “must-see” list for Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Sandia Peak Tramway was near the top of the list. In El Paso, we rode the Wyler Aerial Tramway. It was a lot of fun, and we looked forward to another ride up a mountain.
In early March, when the temperature at the top of the mountain was in the low 40s and the webcams showed snow on the ground, we grabbed our jackets and headed out.
Located on the eastern edge of Albuquerque, the Tram is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Central New Mexico., The Sandia Peak Tramway has taken more than 12 million passengers to the top of Sandia Peak and back again. Our plan was to arrive before the peak time of the day.
When we rode the Tramway in 2018, tickets were $25.00 for adults and $20.00 for seniors and military with valid ID. Be sure to check their website for current prices and availability before arriving.
Each ticket is assigned a flight number, and you wait in the lobby until your flight is announced. Our timing was good because we waited in the lobby only five minutes until a tram returned from the top. We were on the next flight out.
Traveling up the mountain
Each tramcar carries 50 passengers or 10,000 pounds up the mountain at a maximum rate of 200 passengers per hour. We were the first passengers to load and took our spots at the front window. The car filled up quickly, and there was little room to move once the doors closed. Take note of this if you are claustrophobic.
A ranger accompanies the passengers and provides information regarding the tram and the mountain. On our way up, we learned these facts about the tram.
- The Sandia Peak Tram is 2.7 miles in diagonal length and is a bi-cable double reversible aerial tramway. There are two tramcars.
- Both tramcars are attached to the hauling cables, and the weight of the downhill car helps pull the uphill car to the top. When the tramcars pass at midway, they are nearly 1,000 feet above the ground.
- Top speed of the tramway is 24 feet per second, averaging 12 mph.
- The tram cables are supported by two towers between the terminals. Tower One is located at an elevation of 7,010 feet and is 232 feet tall.
Here we are approaching one of the towers. When the tram passes the towers, you’ll feel a slight sway.
The ride to the top takes about 15 minutes. During that time, the tramcar and passengers ascend about 4,000 feet along the western face of the Sandia Mountains.
In a few minutes, we were approaching the upper tram station and entering the docking area. You could hear the excitement in the voices of the passengers as they prepared to exit.
Exploring the Sandia Peak
The train station at the tip of the Sandia Peak has a large observation deck and steps leading down to the ski lifts and forest trails. The elevation at the peak is 10,375 feet.
The tram serves the Sandia Peak Ski Area, a prime spot for intermediate and beginner skiers from mid-December through mid-March. Due to the lack of snow, the lifts were not running when we were there. That didn’t seem to bother the people enjoying the snow.
After exploring the ski lift area, we walked over to a foot trail along the front side of the Tramway Station to get check out the view and take more pictures of the mountain.
Riding the tram back down
We really enjoyed the views and would have explored longer, but our feet were getting wet. It was time to head back to the upper tram station and do a little exploring up there.
The tram station has restrooms, lockers for rent, and information about the area. When you’re ready to ride back down the mountain, you need to get in line and wait for the next tram. We waited about 20 minutes for a tram to take us down.
Riding down was as much fun as riding up. You see the mountain from a different viewpoint as you slowly approach the ground.
As we approached the docking station, Andy took a few pictures.
If you are in the Albuquerque area, I hope you have time to ride the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway. It is a great way to see the area.
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.
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