NEWS
Access to much of Sandia Crest to be closed for 2 years
Forest Service says crews will do wildfire risk mitigation and tear down Crest House giftshop
Published
Modified
Popular trails on the Sandia Crest and the upper section of the main access road — N.M. 536 — will close for nearly two years for wildfire risk mitigation and construction, according to a Forest Service news release.
As early as April 1, N.M. 536 will be closed to vehicle traffic past the 10K Trailhead parking lot. Hikers will be unable to access Ellis, Sandia Crest and Kiwanis Cabin trails.
Additionally, hikers looking to complete the 7-mile La Luz Trail will have to reroute to the 10K Trail near the summit.
While the Tram will be unaffected by the maintenance work, many of the popular trails to its north will be blocked off.
During the closure, crews will thin vegetation, rework walking paths, cut down dead trees and demolish the Crest House gift shop.
The closure is necessary, according to a post on the Forest Service website, because of “significant” fire risks to surrounding radio towers that are responsible for 911 and other emergency communication in Albuquerque. Those towers also provide cell service and broadcast radio.
This heightened fire risk was caused by bug infestations at the Crest that killed numerous trees, the post said.
Trails are tentatively planned to reopen in the winter of 2027.
Gillian Barkhurst is the local government reporter for the Journal. She can be reached at gbarkhurst@abqjournal.com.
