Pino Trail, Sandia Mountains- Albuquerque, NM

Climbing Party:  Aaron Dover, Amanda Harnden, Andrea & Brian Bielecki, Scarlet and Ellie
Elevation Gain: 2,760'
Distance:  9.15 miles RT
Difficulty:  Moderate
Hiking Calculator: 22 


Directions:  From Denver, take I-25 south for about 6 hours until you reach the Tramway Road exit just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Take a left off of the exit, and drive 7.3 miles, then take a left on Academy Boulevard to the Elaine Gallegos Park.  You will see signs for the Pino Trail.  FYI, it is $1 to park midweek, and $2 to park on weekends.

About 2 months ago, Amanda and I could see that we would be needing a nice little vacation.  There was a lot on the plate, and we both agreed that a quick trip to New Mexico would be beneficial for our minds, bodies and spirits.  We decided to book a few nights at the Tamaya Resort in Santa Ana Pueblo, just outside ALBQ.  It was a great choice since it was relatively close to Denver, and Amanda had family there.  Her godparents, Andrea and Brian lived in nearby ALBQ, and invited us (and dogs) over for dinner on the day of our arrival.  We had a wonderful visit, and a GREAT meal.  We firmed up our plans, and agreed to tackle the Pino Trail in the Sandia Mountain Wilderness.

What, me worry? Sandia in the background.

 While Denver, and most of Colorado, was experiencing snowfall (apparently??), New Mexico had some high winds, and cloudy weather....ok, no biggie, right?  Weather reports for Sunday were varied.  Some were calling for sunshine, rain, and that clouds would burn off by 10, so we weren't sure what to wear.  I had dug myself in somewhat of a hole since I only packed a cotton t-shirt, and a fleece thinking that we were travelling to New Mexico, and I could afford to be a little lax on the hiking attire.  I should have know better, cotton kills!  If anyone reading this is new to hiking, stay away from cotton.  ALWAYS opt for a moisture wicking fabric for a base layer such as polypropelene, UnderArmor, Nike dryfit, or Climacool by Addidas...any kind of breathable fabric.  Whether it rains or you sweat too much and it gets cold, it can invite hypothermia if you wear cotton.  It is beneficial on hot days and cold days.  I broke one of the biggest rules in wearing cotton.

We arrived at the trail head at 8:00 am, and met Brian and Andrea, and soon thereafter we were on the way!  It was 37*, overcast, and the peak of the mountain was parked in a cloud bank, and not visible.  We were all really pumped to get out and enjoy the day!  Below is the trail map found at the TH.  Click to enlarge.

Pino Trail Elevation Profile

Map of Sandia Wilderness. Pino Trail #140.

This hike was really cool because it felt like we had visited four different regions of the country in a single hike!  That kind of variety keeps things interesting as you watch the landscape change throughout the hike.  We started at an elevation of 6,471', and for the first mile it was very much a desert scene.  The landscape had the really cool turquoise southwest grass, and prickly pear and cholla cacti guarded the edge of the trail to make sure you didn't venture off.

Scene at the start.

Lookout for Cholla!

After such a wide open start to the trail, you start to gain in elevation, and whenever you gain in elevation, the landscape will tend to change.  At mile 2, bushes were starting to get taller, and the trail became enclosed.  The trail was also hard dirt pack, and there were several rolls in the terrain.  It almost felt like we were on a dirt roller coaster enclosed in a vegetation tunnel.  It really was cool.  Also of note, at this time the traffic on the trail really started to thin out and we were by ourselves.

A on the dirt roller coaster section!

Climbing higher into the 3rd and 4th mile, the elevation really started to change the landscape dramatically.  It looked like New England up there!  The woods became thick, blowdowns, streams filled with fallen leaves, and even snow on the trail.  We were ascending up the side wall of a canyon and stepping over large rocks, fallen trees, and I even saw a stand of birch trees.  The thick woods, high winds, and chilly temps made us quickly forget the desert landscape only 2 miles behind us.

One of the many blow downs in New England section.

We finally reached the top of the ridge (9,276') 1:50 after starting and found a way to get out of the wind and scarf down some food and enjoy the view and being out of the wind.  It was cloudy, and we were starting to get chilled a little from stopping so we made our way back down.

Group Summit Shot!

A big THANK YOU to Brian and Andrea for their hospitality during our visit!  I know we will be seeing them soon in July to take on Mt. Bierstadt!

Bottom line, if you are in Albuquerque, I recommend checking out some of the routes in the Sandias.  This is the only one I've done, but the variety and challenge were definitely there, and the scenery is amazing.  Just remember to pack a breathable base layer:)