Description
Sitting at the north end of the east side of the Sandias is a chunk of City of Albuquerque Open Space land. For years this land sat unused. Fortunately, the City’s Open Space Division has developed a network of trails that allows us to explore this wonderful area. Our hike begins in pinyon-juniper grassland. In a little more than a half mile, the trail reaches the edge of a broad multi-colored canyon that looks like a smaller version of the Grand Canyon. The hike follows the edge of the canyon for a little more than a half mile before descending into the canyon. After checking out the multiple colors and twisted formations inside the canyon, we’ll return to the top and follow a different trail back to the trailhead. Note: This is a moderate 3.5-mile hike with limited shade. Make sure you have sturdy hiking footwear, a hat, sunscreen, and water. A walking stick is highly recommended. Limited Enrollment. No restrooms available.
David Ryan, who has given several presentations at Oasis, is the coauthor of the 3rd edition of “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Albuquerque ” and the author of several other walk books. In addition to hiking around Albuquerque, he has gone on several very long walks including the Camino de Santiago and the entire Appalachian Trail. You can find many of the places he has explored on his blog at www.gentleartofwandering.com.
