New Mexico · Hiking · Near Santo Domingo Pueblo

Sidetrack

1.2 mi
round trip
125 ft
climb
5,829 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Sidetrack open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sandia Ranger District. It doesn't name Sidetrack, 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.

Sidetrack is a short, easy hike in the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, about 1.2 miles long with a one-way climb of about 125 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced and open to bikes. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Placitas show October highs around 71°F with lows near 41°F, and May highs around 79°F. July and August run hotter and wetter, with highs near 90°F and about eight wet days a month. The trail is not accessible. Several other hikes start close by, including Chalk Dust about 0.2 miles away and Bootleg and Mustang Alley Trail each about 0.3 miles away. Climbers can find Tunnel Springs about 2.7 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    KOA

    Campground

    Campground · 3.5 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsJim Legans, Jr from Albuquerque, New Mexico, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Tinkertown Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 11 mi from Santo Domingo Pueblo

    Folk art museum in Sandia Park, New Mexico

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jim Legans, Jr from Albuquerque, New Mexico, CC BY 2.0 (commons)

More in Santo Domingo Pueblo

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Sidetrack

    Best months: March–May and September–November. 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

      47° / 24°

      2 wet · 1 snow

    2. Feb

      53° / 28°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      61° / 33°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      71° / 40°

      3 wet

    5. May

      79° / 48°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      89° / 58°

      4 wet

    7. Jul

      91° / 63°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      89° / 60°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 53°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      71° / 41°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      56° / 31°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      46° / 24°

      2 wet · 1 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Placitas 4w, NM, 1 mi away at 5,585 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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