The Best Hiking Trails in Albuquerque

The Rio Grande Bosque is one of Albuquerque's true gems. Due to the Rio Grande's historic propensity to flood, the city's construction was kept well back from the waterway, leaving this incredible green space running through the heart of the city....

The North Foothills area includes the Elena Gallegos Open Space, and the trails in this network comprise some of the best and most easily-accessible singletrack in the Albuquerque region. Serving a population of almost a million people, you can expect to encounter traffic on these trails… but that shouldn’t dissuade you....

Pino Trail climbs from the high desert of Albuquerque into subalpine forest on the Sandia Crest, through different vegetation zones along the way. When not in the trees, views are of rocky peaks all around and the city far below....

La Luz Trail is the premier hike in the Sandia Mountains, starting from the foot of the range near Albuquerque and climbing to the top of the Sandia Crest. It's a strenuous climb with huge elevation change, rocky for much of the way, and riddled with switchbacks....

The Whitewash Loop is an epic route into the high country of the Sandia Mountains that's great for trail runners and hikers alike. Just a short drive from Interstate 40, this lightly-traveled loop will provide you with an astonishing contrast to the fast-moving city below....