Sandia Mountain Wilderness
Sandia Mountain Wilderness is a 37,278-acre wilderness area in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. It rises from about 5,867 to 10,620 ft. The nearest town is Cedar Crest, 0.4 miles away in a straight line.
Sandia Mountain Wilderness map
Sandia Mountain Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Agency fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- The maximum group size at Sandia Mountain Wilderness is 25.
- Cedar Crest, NM is the nearest town, 0.4 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Sandia Mountain Wilderness is about 10,620 ft, and its lowest about 5,867 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is North Sandia Peak, about 10,442 ft.
Who manages Sandia Mountain Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 37,278 | Not on record | 25 | Not on record | Sandia Ranger District, 505-281-3304 |
Getting to Sandia Mountain Wilderness
- Cedar Crest, NM is the nearest town, 0.4 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Sandia Mountain Wilderness
- Crest (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 10,591 ft), at 35.2094, -106.4487
- Kiwanis Cabin (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 10,574 ft), at 35.2034, -106.4433
- La Luz (0.03 mi outside the boundary, 7,027 ft), at 35.2195, -106.4810
- Sandia Man Cave (0.03 mi outside the boundary, 7,051 ft), at 35.2503, -106.4099
- Canyon Estates (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 6,548 ft), at 35.0896, -106.3916
- Tramway (0.06 mi outside the boundary, 6,516 ft), at 35.1918, -106.4792
- Embudito (Albuquerque Open Space) (0.09 mi outside the boundary, 6,238 ft), at 35.1362, -106.4820
- Agua Sarca (0.1 mi outside the boundary, 6,354 ft), at 35.2914, -106.4411
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Sandia Mountain Wilderness
- North Sandia Peak summit
- South Sandia Peak summit
- Embudo Canyon canyon
- South Sandia Spring spring
- Embudo Spring spring
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Sandia Mountain Wilderness
- National forestSandia Mountain Wilderness lies inside Cibola National Forest.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in New Mexico
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- apps.fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.