Sandia Mountain Wilderness
Despite the fact that these mountains tower above the very nearby sprawl of Albuquerque and despite the fact that the trails of this Wilderness may be more heavily used than any other trail system in the state, Sandia Mountain Wilderness still provides an opportunity to get out of town –but be prepared to work for your solitude. The area lies primarily on the western slope of the Sandia Mountains, but it crosses over to the eastern side at the north and south ends. Spruce and fir dominate the high country, with stands of mixed conifers just below. Many raptors migrate through these mountains in spring and fall, sharing their territory with a few mule deer and black bears.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | New Mexico |
| Size | 37,278 acres |
| Designated | 1978, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.18° N, 106.44° W |
| Night sky | Some glow on the horizon (Black Marble reading 51) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 2 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 1 trailhead, 1 interpretive site. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 2 miPinoTrailhead-Elena Gallegos Trailhead ↗Trailhead · Open year round
- 2 miKiwanis Cabin Interpretive Site ↗Interpretive site · Open year round
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
36 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 118 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Crest ↗ | 26.9 | |
| Faulty ↗ | 8.9 | |
| La Luz ↗ | 7.1 | |
| Foothills ↗ | 6.4 | |
| Piedra Lisa ↗ | 5.9 | |
| Embudito ↗ | 5.3 | |
| Osha Spring ↗ | 4.5 | |
| Three Gun Spring | 4.1 | |
| Pino | 4 | |
| Canoncito | 3.2 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCedro Piles Rx
10 mi from the center point · 15 acres
- PrescribedPaliza South Rx
38 mi from the center point · 412 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 7.8 miPyle, Ernie, House ↗National Historic Landmark
- 0.7 miHoly Child Church ↗Tijeras, NM
- 2.5 miSan Antonito Church and Cemetery ↗San Antonito, NM
- 3.7 miLa Puerta Lodge ↗Albuquerque, NM
- 3.7 miEnchanted Mesa Trading Post ↗Albuquerque, NM
- 4 miLuna Lodge ↗Albuquerque, NM
- 4 miHoffmantown Baptist Church ↗Albuquerque, NM
- 4.4 miNational Humane Alliance Animal Fountain ↗Albuquerque, NM
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for New Mexico
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Sandia Mountain Wilderness?
37,278 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Sandia Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Sandia Mountain Wilderness in?
New Mexico.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Sandia Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1978.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Sandia Mountain Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Sandia Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.178° N, 106.442° W. Petroglyph National Monument is 15 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Sandia Mountain Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Cedro Piles Rx at 10 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Sandia Mountain Wilderness?
Petroglyph National Monument (15 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Sandia Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 135 listings within 15 miles, including Pyle, Ernie, House and Holy Child Church.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.