Cibola National Forest

Hiked the LA Luz trail. Cost to park $5 (cash or card accepted)Only 1 outhouse available - use restroom before driving in to the trail head. Moderate trail. Hiking shoes or boots recommended. I saw other hikers that didn't appear to be dressed appropriately. Bring sunscreen and water.

Great hikes, plenty to choose from. Beautiful views. Great weekend activity! Bring lots of water and a snack.

Quietest place that we've stayed at- I slept so well for straight 8 hours! We came here on a Monday night and parked our RV in a secluded area. Unforgettable. Thanks Albuquerque

Cibola National Forest is such a great place to visit for lush + natural scenery in Greater Albuquerque area. It's just 15-30 min drive out from Albuquerque, and once you are in it, the coolness and green lush of the trees/plants around there make you sort of forget that you are still in a high dessert land like Albuquerque.There are plenty of parking spots, picnic tables/grills, and hiking trails to try out and in general, the trails there are doable. It's actually quite affordable, too. $3 for a car/passengers/$10 for large passenger car..and I believe $80 for an annual pass. There are plenty of activities to partake. I have seen families doing gathering, bird watchers, mountain bikers, school children study day trip, casual hikers and dog walkers doing things all around.One thing, though, is the direction can be a bit limited. You come across sign here/there, but it's kind of hard to know what the shapes/ difficulties/general trailing length/time it would take to complete get to the end of them. I've been there and got lost half the time pretty much whenever I decided to take different paths..so make sure you carry enough water with you and for your companions and (if any) pets to stay hydrate. Nevertheless, rest assured, all the trails are sort of connected anyways. You may be taking one way in and show up at the exit in another trail's entrance...just may need to walk around a bit to find where you park (so make sure you know exactly where you parked as well!!).

Not only does New Mexico have miles and miles of dry land, they also have miles and miles of national forests!We were driving down US-60 and eventually found ourselves surrounded by this beautiful National Forest. No need to stop, as it is fenced from the highway but it was sure a sight to enjoy after miles of dry desert!

Address / map for this spot is not correct. I did North Piedra Lisa / Del Agua hike which went into the Cibola National Forest. Really pretty, lots of trees and mountains to see. Dirt paths to hike, really enjoyed it! Great hike, great views.

Nature is beautiful! No matter where one is at. I love the earth and most certainly love to be outside. Also, please do not judge my outfit. I am at a conference and wanted to make this drive before the sun went down. Nonetheless, this is a trail I would most certainly hike. Beautiful drive and scenic views.

Cibola National Forest is the forest on the back side of the Sandia Mountains. It starts about the town of San Antonito and goes all the way up to the crest. There are plenty of hiking and camping opportunities out here. The trails are improved, for the most part, and there are great places to take in the scenery on the slopes of the mountains. You'll be sure to see all kinds of wildlife out here. There are black bears, and you're in cougar country! Be sure to pack your own supplies, as you're not going to find anything out here. There's no drinking fountains. At an altitude reaching 10,000 feet, come prepared with sunscreen and lots of water. It can make you short of breath if you're from just above sea level. It's always much colder out here than in the big city, so dress appropriately, even in the summer. This park is big! There's plenty of different trails at differing levels of difficulty. Just be sure not to get lost out here, there can be some extreme weather, especially in the wintertime. You have to pay to park throughout the forest. There are boxes at most of the parking areas. At the end of the highway, you'll find the observation point and park ranger station, where you can learn about the park's history, and the Tram, which takes you directly from the city to the apex of the mountain.

a great national park in the heart of New Mexico just outside of Albuquerque. It's best viewed by car but is easily accessible by calbe car, which boasts the longest cable car in the world - wo hoo. It is about 20 degrees cooler up here and snows in the winter months so be prepared and don't wear your city flip flops and t-shirt. Te sights are picturesque and just about every turn offers a post card view. It's always great to get out of the city and to just sit back and relax..isnt it?

Beautiful scenic drive to the top of Sandia Peak, about 12 miles from the base--lots of twists and turns as the elevation climbs. Looks like lots of great hiking trails along the way up. Views from the top were breathtaking but I felt the signage could have been better with more detail about how the mountains were created etc. Def worth the trip!