PRINT: Climbing in Domingo Baca Canyon (Upper), Sandia Mountains (West Side)

Domingo Baca Canyon (Upper)

New Mexico > Albuquerque Area > Sandia Mountains (W S…

Access Issue: SANDIA CREST CLOSURE ALERT - Beginning APRIL 30, 2026, 140 acres at the top of the Sandia Mountains is under a closure order. Details

Beginning APRIL 30, 2026, 140 acres at the top of the Sandia Mountains will be under a closure order so the Forest Service can complete two different projects. The first project is an extensive "fuel reduction project" and the second is the demolition/remodeling of the whole upper parking lot and crest house. The Crest Road and all parking areas above the 10k parking lot will be closed in addition to the 140 acres of forest that will be under going the fuel reduction work. The closure will be enforced from April 30, 2026, at 6 a.m. through January 15, 2027, at 6 a.m., unless rescinded. You can find the official area closure order 03-03-05-26-02 on the forest website, where it describes the parking areas and trails that the agency will close at: fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola/alerts. For more information visit fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola/news… or contact the Sandia Ranger District Office at 505-281-3304.

Description

Domingo Baca Canyon is the major canyon through which the tram runs. The mouth of the canyon lies perhaps a half hour hike north of the Alleno Gallegos picnic area just off the east side of Albuquerque, and the canyon's upper reaches extend eastward to the ridge line of The Crest. Lower Domingo Baca Canyon roughly spans from the mouth of the canyon up to as far east as Hail Peak.

Getting There

To get to the mouth of the canyon, one possibililty is to hike north from the Elena Gallegos Picnic Area; for this allow a little less than an hour. Another possibility is to hike south from the lower tram terminal of the Sandia Peak Ski & Tramway. Check a trail map for details.

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Near the mouth of Domingo Baca Canyon.