Finally decided to hike this bad boy after having lived in ABQ for over five years. I just don't get too motivated to hike a peak when there's a road and tram to the top. Notwithstanding it is a great hike. Those granite walls are amazing up close. Started at lower tram parking area and took connector trail to the La Luz.
cftbq - May 23, 2013 11:18 pm Date Climbed: May 23, 2013
La Luz
After staring at it for year, finally made the logistics work out to spend a day doing an honest climb of this peak. Ran the La Luz trail with only a handful of other people. RT moving time 6:15. A gorgeous, sunny late spring day.
jdrummerk63 - Apr 1, 2013 12:42 pm Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2013
many times
I really enjoy doing this one right after some fresh snow via la luz.
mtsptfam - Mar 29, 2013 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2012
Not Quite The Way I Like
Had a group of teens in Gallup and heard I had to hit this mountain. Unfortunately ended up just riding the tram up and never hit the actual summit. Bummer for me but enjoyable for everyone else in the group. The tram ride was interesting and the views were beautiful. Next time I will be hiking it and going the whole way to the top. I wasn't even aware of all the interesting climbing near here. Overall though glad to see another different portion of God's creation.
orbitor - Oct 15, 2012 2:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2012
From the Tram
Flew in to Albuquerque for 3-day trip to bag Wheeler. Had first afternoon free, so took the tram up and strolled to the highest point in the Sandias for acclimatization. Decidedly anticlimactic, but nice views of the desert nonetheless.
Hiked La Luz to the upper tram station, then over to the summit parking lot, the down Crest Spur trail, and back down La Luz to the car.
pattond - Jan 12, 2012 6:54 pm Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2012
Home away from home
Climbed many times in my life as a native Burqueno. Favorite is to run La Luz from the County Line restaurant and back (20 miles). Also on my Sandia crossing run with friends in 2008
joseyinnet - Dec 13, 2011 1:09 am Date Climbed: Nov 23, 2011
I've summitted Sandia Peak many times, from the base of the Tram, from La Luz, climbing the Shield, from Tree Spring on the east side. I learned all the "secret" shortcuts too, eventually. Wonderful peak, and at over 4,000 feet of prominence, one of this country's best.
Socorro - Oct 26, 2011 1:09 pm Date Climbed: Mar 21, 2008
Fun, long hike
Hiked up from La Luz. Great day, a bit of snow on the ground, lots of geocaches.
La Luz is about as fun as it gets in the Sandias.. at least if you want to stay on a trail.
Mark Doiron - Jun 20, 2011 6:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2011
All Trails Closed
Was I successful? I reached the summit, but all hiking trails except Foothills were closed due to fire danger effective this a.m. :-( I snuck one short hike in before learning this, but was only able to hike paved trails and the road.
AFmountaineer - Apr 18, 2011 6:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2010
Cool
Awesome views of Albuquerque!
runbyu1 - Nov 9, 2010 2:46 pm Date Climbed: Nov 15, 2008
Run up via La Luz
In town for my sister's XC race, decided to summit Sandia. Started running at the La Luz trailhead, got up in just over an hour and a half. Hauled down the mountain and ran in to a couple of fellow trail runners on the way down. My ride was gone so I had to run all the way back in to town...long boring down the road after such an awesome mountain experience. The La Luz trail is about as good as they come.
pyerger - Oct 28, 2010 12:30 pm Date Climbed: May 22, 2005
We drove to the top, and walk up the ramp to the top using the hand rail. It was a very exhausting 200 feet. It was cloudy that day so I couldn't see anything.
strudolyubov - Nov 2, 2009 1:19 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2009
Sandia Peak
Climbed Sandia Peak several times via La Luz trail and twice up the Knife Edge of the Shield. Awesome views from the trail and the ridge.
ncst - Oct 21, 2009 4:04 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2009
Great hike
Parked at the cable car parking, and started the connecting trail to get to the La Luz trailhead. Couldn't find it, but ended up the La Luz trail anyway a bit further up the mountain. Took the cablecar down. A nicer hike than I thought it would be.
dabailey - Sep 26, 2009 1:42 am Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2009
La Luz
Awesome views the whole way up. Kinda disheartening that after climbing almost 4000ft up, you're surrounded by people who just drove up the backside. But they didn't get the great views on the way up. Or down. Pics
dandrew - Jul 27, 2013 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2013
Lower Tram to La Luz to CrestFinally decided to hike this bad boy after having lived in ABQ for over five years. I just don't get too motivated to hike a peak when there's a road and tram to the top. Notwithstanding it is a great hike. Those granite walls are amazing up close. Started at lower tram parking area and took connector trail to the La Luz.
cftbq - May 23, 2013 11:18 pm Date Climbed: May 23, 2013
La LuzAfter staring at it for year, finally made the logistics work out to spend a day doing an honest climb of this peak. Ran the La Luz trail with only a handful of other people. RT moving time 6:15. A gorgeous, sunny late spring day.
jdrummerk63 - Apr 1, 2013 12:42 pm Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2013
many timesI really enjoy doing this one right after some fresh snow via la luz.
mtsptfam - Mar 29, 2013 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2012
Not Quite The Way I LikeHad a group of teens in Gallup and heard I had to hit this mountain. Unfortunately ended up just riding the tram up and never hit the actual summit. Bummer for me but enjoyable for everyone else in the group. The tram ride was interesting and the views were beautiful. Next time I will be hiking it and going the whole way to the top. I wasn't even aware of all the interesting climbing near here. Overall though glad to see another different portion of God's creation.
orbitor - Oct 15, 2012 2:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2012
From the TramFlew in to Albuquerque for 3-day trip to bag Wheeler. Had first afternoon free, so took the tram up and strolled to the highest point in the Sandias for acclimatization. Decidedly anticlimactic, but nice views of the desert nonetheless.
birdhead - Sep 30, 2012 8:11 pm Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2012
From La LuzHiked La Luz to the upper tram station, then over to the summit parking lot, the down Crest Spur trail, and back down La Luz to the car.
pattond - Jan 12, 2012 6:54 pm Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2012
Home away from homeClimbed many times in my life as a native Burqueno. Favorite is to run La Luz from the County Line restaurant and back (20 miles). Also on my Sandia crossing run with friends in 2008
joseyinnet - Dec 13, 2011 1:09 am Date Climbed: Nov 23, 2011
crisp fall morningBeautiful views every which way.
markhyams - Dec 7, 2011 3:10 am
many timesI've summitted Sandia Peak many times, from the base of the Tram, from La Luz, climbing the Shield, from Tree Spring on the east side. I learned all the "secret" shortcuts too, eventually. Wonderful peak, and at over 4,000 feet of prominence, one of this country's best.
Socorro - Oct 26, 2011 1:09 pm Date Climbed: Mar 21, 2008
Fun, long hikeHiked up from La Luz. Great day, a bit of snow on the ground, lots of geocaches.
matthewp - Aug 21, 2011 6:48 pm
WinterSnow shoed it in mid december. Tons of fun. Some sketchy parts but so worth it.
matthewp - Aug 21, 2011 6:47 pm
First Hike of SummerLa Luz is about as fun as it gets in the Sandias.. at least if you want to stay on a trail.
Mark Doiron - Jun 20, 2011 6:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2011
All Trails ClosedWas I successful? I reached the summit, but all hiking trails except Foothills were closed due to fire danger effective this a.m. :-( I snuck one short hike in before learning this, but was only able to hike paved trails and the road.
AFmountaineer - Apr 18, 2011 6:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2010
CoolAwesome views of Albuquerque!
runbyu1 - Nov 9, 2010 2:46 pm Date Climbed: Nov 15, 2008
Run up via La LuzIn town for my sister's XC race, decided to summit Sandia. Started running at the La Luz trailhead, got up in just over an hour and a half. Hauled down the mountain and ran in to a couple of fellow trail runners on the way down. My ride was gone so I had to run all the way back in to town...long boring down the road after such an awesome mountain experience. The La Luz trail is about as good as they come.
pyerger - Oct 28, 2010 12:30 pm Date Climbed: May 22, 2005
sandiaHave hiked this peak several times.
Notsob - May 23, 2010 4:48 pm
Sandia PeakWe drove to the top, and walk up the ramp to the top using the hand rail. It was a very exhausting 200 feet. It was cloudy that day so I couldn't see anything.
strudolyubov - Nov 2, 2009 1:19 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2009
Sandia PeakClimbed Sandia Peak several times via La Luz trail and twice up the Knife Edge of the Shield. Awesome views from the trail and the ridge.
ncst - Oct 21, 2009 4:04 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2009
Great hikeParked at the cable car parking, and started the connecting trail to get to the La Luz trailhead. Couldn't find it, but ended up the La Luz trail anyway a bit further up the mountain. Took the cablecar down. A nicer hike than I thought it would be.
dabailey - Sep 26, 2009 1:42 am Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2009
La LuzAwesome views the whole way up. Kinda disheartening that after climbing almost 4000ft up, you're surrounded by people who just drove up the backside. But they didn't get the great views on the way up. Or down. Pics