New Mexico · Hiking

Sunset Canyon Trail

Sunset Canyon TrailPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.1 mi
round trip
822 ft
climb
7,171 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Sunset Canyon Trail is a 2.1-mile out-and-back hike in Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The route starts at about 6,300 feet and climbs to roughly 7,170 feet, a total gain of 822 feet. The hike is rated easy, and the round trip is under two miles, so it makes a straightforward outing for a single afternoon. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically May and September, when typical averages from the nearby Sandia Park weather station run from 73°F with a 41°F low in May to 77°F with a 46°F low in September. That station sits at a similar elevation to the trail, so its figures are a fair guide to what to expect here. Several other routes and climbing areas lie within a short drive. Trailhead Road Northeast is about 0.3 miles away, and Embudito and Glenwood Hills Drive Northeast are each about 0.4 miles off. The Manitoba/Montgomery Trailhead climbing area is also about 0.4 miles away.

Local outfitters

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  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Sunset Canyon 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, 8.5 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

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

Trailhead Road Northeast

Next door

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

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

Embudito

Next door

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

EmbudoPhoto: somjuan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Embudo

~4 min drive

5.49-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,832 ft of elevation gain.

Glenwood Hills Drive NortheastPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Glenwood Hills Drive Northeast

Next door

0.74-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 29 ft of elevation gain.

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

Pino

~5 min drive

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

HIKE

Sunset Canyon Ridge Route

~2 min drive

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

Sunset Canyon Ridge TrailPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sunset Canyon Ridge Trail

Next door

0.12-mile out-and-back hike on Sunset Canyon Ridge in New Mexico.

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

North Pino Canyon Route

~5 min drive

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

HIKE

Embudito-White Wash

~2 min drive

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

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

Old Embudito Trail

~1 min drive

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

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors