Gnasty Trail
- 0.2 mi
- round trip
- 10 ft
- climb
- 7,311 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Is Gnasty Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Sandia Ranger District. It doesn't name Gnasty Trail, 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.
Gnasty Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 0.2 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 10 feet, so it's a quick stop rather than a climb. The route starts and ends at roughly 7,284 feet, with the high point at about 7,311 feet. It's a short walk that fits easily into a day spent exploring the surrounding trails. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from the Sandia Park weather station, about 13 miles away, show May highs around 73°F and September highs around 77°F, with lows in the 40s. Several other trails sit within a short distance. Gnasty With a G and Three Bottles Flow Trail are each about 0.2 miles away, and Blue Ribbon Trail is about 0.3 miles off. Climbers can find Block Wall about 0.9 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Turquoise Trail Campground9 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Gnasty Trail
Best months: April–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.
Jan
44° / 19°
Feb
48° / 22°
Mar
55° / 26°
Apr
63° / 34°
May
73° / 41°
Jun
83° / 49°
Jul
83° / 53°
Aug
80° / 52°
Sep
77° / 46°
Oct
65° / 36°
Nov
54° / 24°
Dec
43° / 18°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sandia Park, NM, 13.3 mi away at 7,030 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: killbox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Cedro Creek Nature Trail
~2 min drive
Easy 1.8-mile creek walk through New Mexico riparian woodland.
Photo: killbox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)West Ridge
~2 min drive
2.54-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 498 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Turkey Trot
~4 min drive
6.26-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 494 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: killbox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Otero Canyon
~2 min drive
1.68-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 295 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: killbox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Birdhouse Ridge
~2 min drive
2.51-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 633 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: killbox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Cedro Creek Interpretive
~2 min drive
2.14-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 394 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Southern Crossing
~4 min drive
2.50-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 440 ft elevation gain.
Photo: killbox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Jackalope
~3 min drive
2.17-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 300 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
More Turkey
~4 min drive
3.42-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 222 ft gain.
HIKE
Gnasty With a G
Next door
1.32-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 701 ft elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors