The Sandia Crest Climb (10,640 ft.) is a scenic, challenging climb (4,880' from Tijeras) to the highest point on the Sandia Mountains and quite an accomplishment for all cyclists. The descent is not to be missed. It has tight turns on descent and can be considerably colder than town. This is a great ride to practice your descent technique. Once on NM 536 you are climbing mostly through a heavily forested road with very low traffic. This is a lovely summer evening ride in the lengthening shadows, with cooler temperatures, and with almost no traffic. NM14 and NM 536 (Sandia Crest Road) are parts of the Turquoise Trail and are a National Scenic Byway.
The climb goes through several vegetation zones and interesting geologic features. The route goes through ponderosa, aspen, and spruce forests. The aspens turn vibrant yellows and orange in the fall. The locust trees bloom in the spring along the lower elevations. Most of the year wildflowers line the highway.
You enter the Cibola National Forest just past Tinkertown.
The Sandias are relatively young, geologically. Road cuts display sandstone and limestone layers broken in different directions hinting at the forces at work raising the range. As you pedal past Doc Long, the Great Unconformity is visible in the road cut across from Doc Long. The rocks above the line are 250 million years old, those below are 1,450 million years old. The unconformity is a 1.2 billion year gap that has been eroded away then younger rocks deposited above.
At the summit on the observation deck, you are standing on fossil-laden Pennsylvanian limestone. There is a parking lot at the crest where there is a USFS visitor center and snack bar and gift shop. There are normally quite a few people at the crest but it is not congested. You might want to bring a light locking cable to be able to walk to the observation platform or south along the Crest Trail. There is a superb view of all of Albuquerque, Mt. Taylor, Ladron Peak, and the Jemez Mountains on the west.
The Sandia Crest Climb is a popular cycling route and you will normally see other cyclists on the road or meet them at the top.
A popular summer evening ride is to start at the Triangle and ride up through the lengthening shadows to twilight and turn around before the downhill at the ski area. Alternative to the popular Sandia Crest Climb
Distance: 53.7 miles, 5,887 ft. elevation gain.
Getting There: This ride begins at Smith's on Tramway, south of Central.
Roadway: Mostly 2-lane with light traffic.
Options: You can start at the Library in Tijeras and shorten the ride by 14 miles.
- See also Sandia Crest Climb.
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