South Sandia Peak is another large granite mountain in long series of thrust up peaks along the eastern edge of the Rio Grande Rift. Generally overlooked by climbers, South Sandia Peak remains relatively empty and makes for an excellent escape from Albuquerque. With incredible views of most of the peaks in central New Mexico, the summit offers a wonderful collection of scenery. All routes are long walks up to the summit region ranging between 3-5 hours on the ascent. Possessing a large spectrum of habitats from the high desert to mountain forests, the trails up the peak present hikers with an expansive variety of flora and fauna to enjoy.

Getting There

None of the trails below takes you all the way to the summit, but they all point you in the right direction. Just west of the junction between Embudito Trail and the Crest Trail in Oso Pass, a trail that follows the crest goes north from Embudito Trail to the summit.

South Crest Trailhead:
Take Interstate 40 east from Albuquerque. Get off at Exit 175 and take an immediate left back beneath the freeway to the north (before the 4-way intersection). Take a right on the north side of the freeway (a left will send you back onto the freeway). Continue straight on the road passed the houses and the trailhead parking area is at the end of the road. Elevation gain is 3,185 feet and the total distance is 7 miles (one-way) to the summit.

Embudo Trailhead:
Follow Indian School Blvd. in Albuquerque to its eastern end. The trailhead is at the end of the road and opens to the western flank of the mountain. A long walk up Embudo Canyon to the top of the ridge extending southward from the western shoulder of South Sandia, the Embudo trail joins Three Gun Trail, which comes from the south. From there, continue north to the intersection with Embudito. Follow Embudito Trail east to the crest. The elevation range is 6,180-7,860 feet and the trail length is 3.2 miles (one way).

Embudito Trailhead:
Take Montgomery Blvd. in Albuquerque to its eastern end. Take a left on Glenwoofs Hills Drive, then a left on Cedar Brook Avenue and an quick right on to Desert Hills Place straight to the trailhead. A steep hike up Embudito canyon, this trail will take you straight up to the intersection with Embudo on the western shoulder of the mountain with no real deviations from the straight line. The elevation range is 6,240-9,400 feet and the trip length is 4 miles (one way).

Three-Gun Trailhead:
Drive on I-40 east from Albuquerque to the Carnuel 170 Exit. Continue east 1.5 miles and turn left on to Monticello Dr. Take another left on to Alegre Rd. and continue to Siempre Verde Dr., stay right, and proceed north on the Tres Pistolas dirt road to the trailhead.

Red Tape

Protected as part of the Sandia District of the Cibola National Forest and the Sandia Mountains Wilderness Area, South Sandia Peak has several restrictions. No motorized vehicles or mechanical transport like mountain bikes are allowed on the trails and a $3 parking fee is required at all trailheads within the national forest or wilderness, which means all parking except at the Southern Crest Trailhead are free. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash and picked up after.

When To Climb

The peak can be climbed at all times during the year, but the best times are from April until September. During the winter, winds are fierce, temperatures plummet, and the snow becomes pretty deep, so it is wise to always come prepared for the worst. Like many of the mountains in the four corners region of the United States, afternoon thunderstorms hound South Sandia Peak frequently during the spring, summer, and fall.
These storms have a tendency to catch climbers and hikers off guard since they form within an hour from when the first cloud begins to appear so it is best to get up and down the mountain before the afternoon hours. Also pack plenty of water because of the dry air and intense sun along with the altitude will drain your body of fluids rapidly.

Camping

There are no campgrounds on the mountain but camping is allowed. However, all climbs are done within a day so camping is unnecessary for most people.

Mountain Conditions

For mountain conditions you can take the following link, which is also offered at the Sandia Peak and useful for South Sandia Peak because of their close proximity to each other.
Sandia Weather

It is also possible to e-mail, call, or mail the district ranger of the Sandia Mountains. His e-mail is jcandrew@fs.fed.us, his address is 11776 Highway 337, Tijeras, New Mexico USA 87059-8619, and his phone numbers are (505) 281-3304 [voice] and (505) 281-1176 [fax].

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