Powerline
- 2.7 mi
- round trip
- 752 ft
- climb
- 7,284 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Is Powerline open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Sandia Ranger District. It doesn't name Powerline, 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.
Powerline is a moderate out-and-back hike in the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The route is about 5.5 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 752 feet, taking you from a low point of 6,442 feet to a high of 7,284 feet. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring and early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Sandia Park weather station, at a similar elevation, run to highs around 73°F in May and 77°F in September, with lows in the mid-40s. Several other trails start close by. Cedro Creek Trail and ATV Bypass are each about 0.1 mile away, and Chamisoso is about 0.4 mile off. Climbers can find the Ranger Station Wall about 0.9 mile away.
Local outfitters
- Turquoise Trail Campground6 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Powerline
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, 10.4 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)Jackalope
~2 min drive
2.17-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 300 ft elevation gain.
Photo: killbox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)West Ridge
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2.54-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 498 ft elevation gain.
Photo: killbox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Cedro Creek Interpretive
~3 min drive
2.14-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 394 ft elevation gain.
Photo: killbox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Birdhouse Ridge
~4 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)Otero Canyon
~3 min drive
1.68-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 295 ft of elevation gain.
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Chamisoso
Next door
2.67-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 752 ft elevation gain.
Photo: killbox, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Cedro Creek Nature Trail
~4 min drive
Easy 1.8-mile creek walk through New Mexico riparian woodland.
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Chamisoso Canyon Road
~4 min drive
3.95-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 391 ft elevation gain.
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Atv Bypass
Next door
0.87-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 266 ft elevation gain.
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Hobbies Trail
~5 min drive
0.66-mile out-and-back hike in New Mexico with 209 ft elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors