There were 6 hikers (Scott Lake, Pam Bliss, Kathleen Rhoad, Heather Gram, Eliza and Mymm Ackley) on this beautiful day, two days before the Sandia trails were closed due to fire danger. The trail head is near the Ski Area. It is a fairly gradual but constant clime toward the crest. It is well shaded for the most part with few rocky spots that present challenges. This is a great trail for a shorter day hike, well worth the travel and effort. We hiked to the crest and ate lunch near an overlook of Albuquerque. It does intersect the Crest trail so there are opportunists for extending the hike to the north or south along the crest rim.
Pictures by Scott Lake except where noted.
Trail sign at the trail head
View at the trail head
Kathleen and Eliza (and friends) heading off on the trail
Aspen along the trail
Golden Smoke
Inflated Penstemon
Hedgehog Cactus
Wallflower (Kathleen)
Tiger Swallowtail and Wallflowers
Mymm, Kathleen, Pam (left to right) and Heather (in back)
View of Albuquerque at the end of the trail (Kathleen)