New Mexico · Hiking

Old Crest Trail

Old Crest TrailPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.4 mi
round trip
147 ft
climb
8,546 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Is Old Crest Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sandia Ranger District. It doesn't name Old Crest 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.

Old Crest Trail is a short, easy hike in the Sandia Mountain Wilderness, part of the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest in New Mexico. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail lies within designated wilderness. The route is an out-and-back of about 0.7 miles, with a one-way climb of roughly 147 feet from a low point of about 8,302 feet to a high of about 8,546 feet. It's a quick outing, and the trail's brevity makes it an easy addition to a day spent exploring the surrounding area. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Sandia Park show May highs around 73°F and September highs around 77°F, while winter highs there sit in the low to mid 40s. Several other trails start close by. Old South Crest Trail is about 0.4 miles away, and Hawk Watch Trail and Hawk Watch Overlook are each about half a mile off. Climbers can find Trail Side Area 1 about 1.2 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Old Crest 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.

    1. Jan

      44° / 19°

    2. Feb

      48° / 22°

    3. Mar

      55° / 26°

    4. Apr

      63° / 34°

    5. May

      73° / 41°

    6. Jun

      83° / 49°

    7. Jul

      83° / 53°

    8. Aug

      80° / 52°

    9. Sep

      77° / 46°

    10. Oct

      65° / 36°

    11. Nov

      54° / 24°

    12. Dec

      43° / 18°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sandia Park, NM, 8.8 mi away at 7,030 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors