Sandia Crest

Sandia Crest rises to 3,255 m (10,679 ft) in the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque. NM-536, paved in 1960, runs about 18 km (11 miles) from the junction with NM-14 up to the crest, roughly 37 km (23 miles) northeast of Albuquerque, climbing almost 1,200 m (4,000 ft). The road passes through Cibola National Forest and the Sandia Mountain Wilderness. At the top there are observation platforms with sweeping views, the Crest House visitor center and several communications towers. In the evening, the lights of the city come out below.

Average snowfall is about 295 cm (116 inches) a year, so chains or snow tires are occasionally required on the road. Alternatively, you can reach the crest on foot via the La Luz Trail. The Sandia Peak Tramway from Albuquerque, regarded as the longest aerial tramway in the Americas, does not go to the crest itself but to Sandia Peak to the south.