Shooting Marbles
- 2.2 mi
- round trip
- 267 ft
- climb
- 7,437 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Is Shooting Marbles open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Sandia Ranger District. It doesn't name Shooting Marbles, 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
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
Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts Stage 1 Fire Restriction Order 03-03-00-26-05
Agency alert covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-00-26-05 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Sandia Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Shooting Marbles is an easy out-and-back hike in the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest, about 2 miles from the town of Sedillo, New Mexico. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and runs about 4.4 miles round trip, with a one-way climb of roughly 270 feet from a low point of about 7,100 feet to a high of about 7,400 feet. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Sandia Park weather station show May highs around 73°F and September highs around 77°F, with July and August warming to about 83°F. Several other hikes sit close by. Five Hills is about 0.2 miles away, Squirrel Run about half a mile, and Gear Grinder and Lower Pine each about 0.7 miles. Climbers can find the Ranger Station Wall about 4 miles off.
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 Shooting Marbles
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, 9.7 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
HIKE
Five Hills
Next door
Five Hills is a 0.52-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 106 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Chamisoso Canyon Road
~2 min drive
3.95-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 391 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Road Noise
~3 min drive
7.88-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 596 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Squirrel Run
Next door
0.95-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 352 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Rollercoaster
~4 min drive
2.68-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 686 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Gear Grinder
~1 min drive
1.57-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 242 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Lower Pine
~1 min drive
Lower Pine is a 2.04-mile lollipop trail in New Mexico with 501 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
Tablezon
~1 min drive
0.67-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 277 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Gear Grinder Trail
~1 min drive
0.33-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 20 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Dog Run
~1 min drive
0.71-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 172 ft elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors