New Mexico · Hiking

Michael Emery Trail

1.4 mi
round trip
356 ft
climb
6,313 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Michael Emery Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sandia Ranger District. It doesn't name Michael Emery 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.

The Michael Emery Trail is a 1.4-mile, easy out-and-back hike in New Mexico, rising from about 5,950 feet to a high point of 6,313 feet. It lies within the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest and runs along the Foothills Trail (365), on city-managed land. The route is short and gentle, with a total climb of about 356 feet. It works well as a quick outing, and the trailhead sits close to the Albuquerque foothills. Summer brings the warmest weather, with typical highs around 89°F in July. September is milder, with typical highs near 80°F and lows around 55°F. These are typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation. Several climbing areas sit about half a mile away, including Boulder A and North Ridge Steps, and the Embudito hike is just 0.7 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 Michael Emery Trail

    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, 1.5 mi away at 5,994 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

EmbuditoPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Embudito

~1 min drive

10.66-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 3,719 ft elevation gain.

Trailhead Road NortheastPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Trailhead Road Northeast

~1 min drive

0.20-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 70 ft elevation loss.

HIKE

Embudito-White Wash

~3 min drive

1.81-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 318 ft elevation gain.

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

Pino

~3 min drive

Pino is an 8.06-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 2950 feet of elevation gain.

Oso Ridge-Embudito LinkPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Oso Ridge-Embudito Link

~2 min drive

0.45-mile out-and-back trail with 159 ft gain in New Mexico.

HIKE

Sunset Canyon Ridge Route

~4 min drive

Easy 1.5-mile canyon ridge walk with minimal elevation gain.

North Pino Canyon RoutePhoto: maximalideal, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Pino Canyon Route

~3 min drive

4.1-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,604 ft elevation gain

Old Embudito TrailPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Old Embudito Trail

~2 min drive

0.34-mile out-and-back hike with 138 ft gain in New Mexico.

HIKE

White Wash Trail South Approach

~4 min drive

1.72-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 930 ft elevation gain

Foothills Trail NorthPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Foothills Trail North

~5 min drive

11.38-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,274 ft gain and 6,664 ft max elevation.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors