New Mexico, USA

Sandia Crest

Trip Guide & 3D Map

Sandia Mountains · Difficulty, season, and access — then explore the 3D terrain

Planning snapshot

Sandia Crest is a 10,678 ft summit in the Sandia Mountains (USA). PeakAtlas rates it strenuous hike (Drive / strenuous day hike); best season is May–Oct. No special summit permit. Typical staging is Albuquerque (16 mi). Limited lodging data is mapped from OpenStreetMap for this region — stage in the listed town rather than expecting a full hotel directory. Use the 3D map and trip checklist before you go.

Elevation
10,678 ft
Prominence
4,098 ft
Difficulty tier
Strenuous hike
Best season
May–Oct
Permits
No special summit permit
Staging
Albuquerque · 16 mi
Mapped lodging
Limited / none mapped
Listed trails
2

As of 2026-07-31 · Figures come from the PeakAtlas3D catalog: surveyed elevations and prominence, curated difficulty tiers, best-season windows, permit notes, staging-town distances, trail lists, and OpenStreetMap lodging near each summit. Not live weather, quotas, or prices.

How hard is Sandia Crest, and what do you need before you go?

Sandia Crest is listed as Drive / strenuous day hike with a best season of May–Oct. Use the difficulty, permit, and staging details below before you commit to a date.

Difficulty
Drive / strenuous day hike
Best season
May–Oct
Access / staging
Albuquerque, New Mexico

How tall is Sandia Crest, and where is it?

Elevation
10,678 ft
Prominence
4,098 ft
Mountain range
Sandia Mountains
Difficulty
Drive / strenuous day hike

What makes Sandia Crest notable?

The defining summit above Albuquerque and one of New Mexico’s most visited mountain destinations.

Albuquerque’s mountain skyline high point — road- and tram-accessible crest with La Luz and other Sandia Wilderness trails on the west face.

After you check trip readiness for Sandia Crest, explore the summit on PeakAtlas3D’s interactive 3D topographic map in the Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, USA.

Closest places

  • Albuquerque — New Mexico via NM-536