#sandia-mountains — Public Fediverse posts

Northern Lights easily visible to the naked eye from Albuquerque, New Mexico! I thought the Sandias were named for the pink appearance of the mountains, not the sky...

#aurora #northernlights #albuquerque #newmexico #sandiamountains #sandiaheights

The Manzano Mountains: The Apple of My Hiking Eye

When you visit or move to Albuquerque, generally one of the first things you hear about is how wonderful the Sandia Mountains are to hike, climb, trek, scale, etc. The La Luz Trail is regularly listed among the top trails to trek both locally and statewide. And there is no doubt the Sandias are beautiful, especially when seen near dusk, when snow-covered, or when towering storms grumble atop them.

That being said,to this peak-climber and hiker, the lesser-known and more laid-back Manzano (Apple) Mountains located just to the south of the Sandia Mountains and southeast of Albuquerque are equally magnificent and frankly provide outdoor enthusiasts with a more enjoyable and varied hike. Probably best known to locals for the 4th of July Trail due to the litany of fall colors that can been seen on this trek, the Manzano Mountains offer a rich variety of hiking opportunities.

Both ranges are quite unique in the fact that the drier (desert-like) side is on the western slope are wetter (more wooded) side is on the eastern slope — completely opposite of most all mountains ranges in the Northern Hemisphere. Generally for hikers, this means you scale the western slopes in the cooler months of the year and eastern slopes in the warmer ones. The amount of snowfall on the eastern slopes is considerably higher on the western slopes.

What I truly love most about the 30 mile long Manzano Mountain Range is their remoteness and lack of crowds, especially compared to the Sandias. This allows you to take in their rugged beauty without being bothered by the noise and actions of others. It also gives a better chance for observing the subtleties of nature in all its glory.

Three trails in particular are personal favorites of mine in the Manzanos:

Manzano Crest Trail – splendid vistas in literally every direction — east towards the High Plains, west towards the Rio Grande Valley, and north and south along the spine of the mountain range. The main trail is 20.1 miles long, all of which is within or abutting the border of the Manzano Wilderness Area, with an optional 5.9 mile Pine Shadow spur. Can’t wait to trek the trail’s entire length beyond the segments near Capilla Peak, and Red and New Canyons hiked to date.

Red (Colorado) Canyon Trail – in the spring or after monsoon season rains, this steep, 2.4 mile long trail has you crossing a small spring fed stream multiple (nine) times and reveals two lovely waterfalls. Several rugged rock outcroppings also adorn this route.

New (Nuevo) Canyon Trail – a more gradual 2.0 mile long climb than Red Canyon that provides stunning views across varied ecosystems along the way.

If you have the opportunity, be sure to check out one or more of the scenic hiking trails traversing the Manzano Mountains. While the 4th of July Trail is the best known, there are others with outstanding scenery and wonderful solitude.

Peace!

#CapillaPeak #environment #fun #geography #hiking #history #landUse #ManzanoCrest #ManzanoMountains #nature #NewCanyon #NewMexico #RedCanyon #SandiaMountains #trails #travel #walking

Albuquerque makes the best rainbows.

#albuquerque #newmexico #sandiamountains #sandiaheights #rainbow

https://www.wilderness.org/articles/media-resources/public-lands-sale-senr-budget-reconciliation-package #Project2025 #Interior Secretary #Bergham ‘s plan for selling off #publiclands to billionaires. For #Albuquerque area, essentially the entire #sandiamountains will be sold. Funny how *his* home state isn’t on the auction block? #NPS #resist #callyourrepresentatives #nmpol #Altnationalparkservice

A perfect fall day for the Sandia Mountains

I have a particular fascination with the Sandia Mountains that tower over Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is hardly a surprise since I live right next to them. Still, for me, creating a stunning photograph of them is something I am constantly striving for, and occasionally, I succeed. Serene Sandias is one of those moments.

The autumn morning was crisp, although gloomy. All in all, it was a typical fall morning for New Mexico. Still, it held some promise and maybe, just maybe, today would be the day. The trees were changing into their autumn display, but not every tree was changing at the same time. The variety of colors made for an impressive scene: all I needed was for it all to come together.

As the day wore on, the clouds, and gloom, began to break up and the sun peeked through here and there. I waited, and waited some more, hoping the scene would come together. The Sandia Mountains change rapidly–all I had to do was wait and hope.

Fate was with me! Just as a few Canadian Geese settled onto the Rio Grande river, the sun broke through the clouds, lighting up the Sandia Mountains. The geese, together with the broad range of fall colors and clearing storm, created the perfect moment.

This stunning combination all comes together in Serene Sandias, available now. You can create your own stunning masterpiece by selecting the perfect combination of frame style and size. With a wide variety of options, you can match your decor perfectly, and together, this unique piece will be one you treasure and enjoy forever.

From a small, intimate size to a large statement piece, we can create something unique to you. You’ll enjoy this perfect fall moment in the Sandia Mountains every day, with its panoply of fall colors. And every day you will be reminded of the beauty that is all around us. 

Bring the Sandia Mountains home!

Bring the journey home with Serene Sandias!

#NewMexico #SandiaMountains

An interesting re-edit of the half moon to show the earth shine side and background stars, along with a couple of shots of the #bluemoon over the #sandiamountains in #albuquerque. Been nearly a month now with clouds every night, so glad it's clearing up as we move into September!

#photography #astronomy #astrophotography #photooftheday #NewMexico

Visited #SandiaCrest and some of the surrounding #trailheads for the first time this week (via the scenic highway).

Wow. It's been 48 hours and I still can't shake the sense that I've discovered #paradise.

Question though: does anyone know what is going on with the cafe and gift shop? It’s closed and a cursory look through the window indicates it's been closed for a while.

#SandiaMountains #NewMexico #happiness

Spent the morning at #ElenaGallegos Open Space and I have to give a shout-out to everyone I met on the #trails, hikers and bikers alike. They were courtesy, considerate, and friendly and as an #exFloridian I have to be honest, I’m in a bit a state of shock. But I could get used to it. :-)

Also, the #ApachePlume was glorious!

#NewMexico #Albuquerque #sandiaMountains #Hiking

Loving this rock. #sandiamountains

Bosque Bike Trail - This Afternoon
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM

Got out on my bike after the weather disturbance that dropped snow on Santa Fe and brought strong winds here. Riding north I saw the Sandia Mountains with clouds above and it occurred to me to take a photo to share with you. If I'd been a little smarter I would have included my bike in the foreground.

The trail runs along the top of the levee with the Rio Grande and the bosque on the left.

#photo #landscape #BikeTrail #SandiaMountains #NewMexico