New Mexico · Hiking

Foothills

FoothillsPhoto: somjuan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.3 mi
round trip
179 ft
climb
6,253 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Foothills open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sandia Ranger District. It doesn't name Foothills, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

  • Area Closure for Recreation Residence Structures and Property at 91 Casa Loma Road

    Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-14 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

  • Area Closure for Recreation Residence Structures and Property at 69 Casa Loma Road

    Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-13 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

  • Area Closure for Sandia Crest “Switchback” Hazard Tree and Fuel Reduction Project

    Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-02 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

  • Sandia Ranger District Road & Area Closure for National Forest Road 462 Maintenance

    Agency alert covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-24 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

  • Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts Stage 1 Fire Restriction Lifted

    Agency alert covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-00-26-20 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

As of · Source: USFS · Sandia Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Foothills is an easy, 2.3-mile out-and-back hike in the Sandia Foothills of New Mexico, within the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest. The trail rises from about 6,074 feet to 6,253 feet, a climb of 179 feet. It is city-managed land, and the route is natural-surface, not accessible. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 78°F and September highs around 80°F. Summer brings more frequent rain, with July and August averaging about 11 wet days each month. The trail is open year round, and bikes are allowed. Several other routes sit close by. Trail 401a is 0.3 miles away, Embudo Bypass is 0.4 miles away, and the Upper Mound (main upper cluster of boulders) climbing area is 0.5 miles away. The Mano Trail is 0.6 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr–May, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Foothills

    Best months: April–May and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      45° / 26°

      5 wet · 3 snow

    2. Feb

      51° / 29°

      5 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      60° / 35°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    4. Apr

      68° / 40°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      78° / 49°

      5 wet

    6. Jun

      88° / 58°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 62°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      86° / 61°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      80° / 55°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 43°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      54° / 33°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      44° / 26°

      5 wet · 3 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Albuquerque Foothills Ne, NM, 3.1 mi away at 5,994 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Embudo BypassPhoto: somjuan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Embudo Bypass

Next door

1.52-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 491 ft of elevation gain.

EmbudoPhoto: somjuan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Embudo

~1 min drive

5.49-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,832 ft of elevation gain.

Mano TrailPhoto: somjuan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mano Trail

Next door

2.20-mile out-and-back hike in New Mexico with 900 ft elevation gain.

Three Gun Spring TrailPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Three Gun Spring Trail

~3 min drive

3.93-mile out-and-back hike in New Mexico with 2,503 ft gain

Mano Eye of the Sandias LinkPhoto: somjuan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mano Eye of the Sandias Link

~1 min drive

0.25-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 255 ft elevation gain.

Manzano / Four HIlls trailPhoto: Francis Storr, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Manzano / Four HIlls trail

~4 min drive

1.78-mile out-and-back hike in New Mexico with 965 ft elevation gain

Hilldale TrailPhoto: maximalideal, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hilldale Trail

~2 min drive

0.08-mile lollipop trail in New Mexico with 68 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

White Wash Trail

~2 min drive

3.64-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 2,839 ft elevation gain.

Powerline RoutePhoto: maximalideal, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Powerline Route

~2 min drive

Steep, short utility trail with significant elevation gain near Powerline Route.

HIKE

Eye of the Sandias Route

~2 min drive

3.48-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,749 ft elevation gain.