New Mexico · Cross-country skiing · Near Santo Domingo Pueblo

Challenge Trail

0.1 mi
round trip
28 ft
climb
7,978 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Is Challenge Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

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

  • 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.

Challenge Trail is a short cross-country ski route in the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, about 0.12 miles from the Forest Service land it sits on. The trail is an out-and-back, about 0.24 miles long, with a low point of 7,926 feet and a high of 7,978 feet. It's a short, low-elevation climb, with a total gain of 28 feet. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from the Sandia Park weather station, about 2.5 miles away, show January highs around 44°F and lows near 19°F, while July and August run warmer, with highs in the low 80s. Dogs are allowed on the trail. The closest neighbor is Oso Corredor, a hike about 0.1 mile away, with Old Faulty Trail and Sulphur within about half a mile. Climbers can find Pino Wall roughly 2.4 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Campbell Scout Ranch

    Campground

    Campground · 1.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Ten 3

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 3 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rainsJim Legans, Jr from Albuquerque, New Mexico, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Tinkertown Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 2 mi

    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 · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Challenge 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, 2.5 mi away at 7,030 ft. The station sits about 900 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.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors