SUMMARY: 6.5k feet to 9.2k feet, 4.6 miles, from Elena Gallegos picnic area to Sandia Crest Trail #130.
DESCRIPTION: Cactus at the bottom, conifer and aspen at the top. Fairly steep, with gorgeous views of Pino Canyon and west over the Rio Grande Valley. One of Albuquerque’s hiking gems.
GETTING THERE: From Tramway Blvd in Albuquerque, turn onto Simms Park Road, head all the way to the Elena Gallegos trailhead parking. A parking fee is required.
From I-40, take Exit 167 and travel north 6.2 miles on Tramway Blvd (NM 556) to Simms Park Rd, turn right (east) on Simms Park Rd and travel 1.4 miles to the Elena Gallegos park entrance. From I-25, take Exit 234 and travel east on Tramway Rd for 7.1 miles before turning left (east) on Simms Park Rd. From there, follow the directions above. Parking permits are required.
CONDITIONS: Popular, heavily traveled.
NMVFO has done somewhat recent work on this trail:
Pino Trail (Sandia RD)
Join us for our annual maintenance and repair of NMVFO’s Adopt-A-Trail in the Sandia Wilderness. 10-person limit.