sandia crest byway

We went to this park last week and the views were good but It took us a good hour to find it. Must to a better directing traffic, especially the tourists. It's not Colorado by any means but if you are a beginner it's worth going to. I would rate this high but nothing is mark

I had so much difficulty finding directions to this. Drove around for almost an hour and still did not find it

My reviews are about motorhomes/RVs - you can read other reviews for general comments. We have a 31 ft. Class A motorhome with no tow vehicle. We drove it up to the parking lot at the top on Dec 28th in the snow/ice and we had no issues. The road was a bit slick with snow/ice but we didn't seem to have any trouble. The road is generally plowed and maintained. We went in the morning around 10:30AM and there was no traffic to speak of going up or down. At the top we parked in the upper parking lot since nobody was there and the spots are large pull-throughs that work great for medium sized RVs like ours. There are around 5-8 of these pull-through parking spots. The main lower lot has mostly regular parking spots but there are still places you can park a medium sized motorhome like ours. In the peak of summer I'd try to go at off-hours (very early morning) to avoid slowing everyone down out of courtesy. Take it slow and steady and you'll have no issues. The scenery is magnificent especially out the front window of an RV that sits high off the road like ours. Enjoy!

It is not a short drive from Albuquerque, but it is worth it if you have time and especially on a clear day. The road is a little challenging, but I have seen worse. At the top is a nice gift shop and snack shop, and of course wonderful views of the area and especially Albuquerque. There are also some trails.

This is a beautiful 14 mile ride up to Sandia Crest but it had few stopping points to take photos. There were a few, chosen more for road engineering purposes than for scenic views. But at the top, the views and photos are very good. The entire city of Albuquerque can be seen. Then there are several very nice hiking trails, and when you return to the visitor center, there's a snack bar with pretty good food. Definitely worth the visit, and it's only a half-hour or so outside Albuquerque. There is a sky tram on the other side of the peak, which takes you to the top where there is a reportedly excellent restaurant, but the wait for the sky tram was about two hours when we arrived around noon. So plan to arrive early to avoid the crowds and waiting lines. The only fee is $3 to $5 for parking, depending on time you plan to be there.

Good day hike along the top of the Sandia Crest mountains to begin a visit to Albuquerque. Great views on a clear day. Can be cloudy later in the day. Reasonably easy parking lot to tram station but high altitude so flatlanders take it easy.

It was quite a drive to get up there. My husband was running a race up the mountain and we had to meet him at the top. But the views are spectacular once you get there. It was quite chilly at first so be sure to have jackets with you even in the middle of summer which is when we visited. There is a guest center at the top with bathroom facilities and a gift shop. There are also lots of hiking trails.

I have been on several more hair-raising roads (Haleakala in Maui, comes to mind) - so I didn't find this drive at all intimidating. However, you do need to take care and follow the warning signs for hairpin turns. The view is worth the drive (which did seem much shorter coming down!) I had a clear and beautiful day, and the temperature was a bit cooler at 10,700 ft as well. As others have mentioned, I had a bit of a headache at that altitude, so I didn't hang around too long. Took some beautiful pictures off the back deck, and skipped the extremely limited snack bar, even though I hadn't eaten yet all day. The gift shop was meh - but the volunteer ranger was extremely friendly and there to answer any and all questions. While I didn't try the tram, I am glad I took the little bit of extra time to drive, since I think the view had to be superior. Oh, and no one is there to give you change so make sure you have 3 $1 bills for your parking. PS - Lots of hiking is available, but I didn't come prepared, and at the altitude, everything is a chore - even walking up a flight of stairs. I met a run who had just hiked, a self-proclaimed fitness buff, and he was sweating and panting after a short hike.

Thanks to the hairpin curves on the drive up Sandia Crest, only passengers can fully enjoy the developing vista of Albuquerque, the Rio Grande Valley and the desert beyond; so pull off at a scenic overlook or two to share the pleasure. The byway ends at the parking lot just below a peak bristling with antennas for Albuquerque's network television affiliates, plus a few sci-fi-ish communication towers for Kirtland Air Force Base. A short walk to their base rewards visitors with a sweeping view. For views in other directions, hike the well-developed trail along the ridge to the docking station for the tramway. The restaurant there, High Finance, makes a tasty and reasonable spot for lunch or drinks; but if those drinks are other than soft, be aware that alcohol packs a heftier punch at 10,371 feet than it does at sea level or even Albuquerque's 5,200.

The trip to the top of the Sandia crest is definitely worth the $3 fee (make sure you pay it, they will write you a $75 ticket if you don't). The overlook at the top has great views of Albuquerque and the Sandias. If you like to walk/hike, take the trail from the overlook parking lot to the tramway (south). This is about 1.5 miles each way and it is a nice walk through the forest.

Nice view over Albuquerque but certainly not spectacular.Without the numerous almost tame humming birds on the terrace of the restaurant this would have been a waist of time.

We heard from a former resident that this was a drive not to be missed -- they were right! The drive is a little challenging, but nothing too scary. There is a $3 per car recreation fee (that you pay at any of the pull-offs) which helps the park pay for forestry, TP in the bathrooms, etc. This seems to be on the honor system, but I think you should keep your Karma good and pay it. It is well worth it.Once you get to the top, the views are spectacular!!!! You are substantially higher than the Tram goes, and have a panoramic view. You also get to see the "steel forest" which is a grouping of the radio towers which get all the electronic stuff over the mountains. Sounds silly, but it was neat to see. There was basically no one else doing the drive - you feel like you have the mountain to yourself.Be aware that you are at a significant altitude, and so may feel a little tipsy. There is a gift shop and restaurant at the peak. We did not eat at the restaurant (which looked pretty limited), but found some decently priced jewelry at the gift shop. This is much better than the Tram, IMHO...

Unfortunately when I visited it was about to snow and the clouds were very low. I drove the 14 miles up this winding road, which was fun, to the top but couldn't see that much. There was some snow around but the road was clear of it. I could imagine how spectacular the views are on a clear day. The wind that high up is cold so bring a sweater, particularly if you're going to walk about. The trail looked interesting but it was so miserably cold and windy that I snapped a few pictures and headed off down the hill. I would love to revisit in better weather.

A bit worried about the snowy road before we went there, but it turned out to be safe to drive up top. You'll get the best view and take gorgeous pictures. Definitely a must-see! We didn't try the tramway(over-priced!) and thought driving to the top on our own should be more fun. We were right! Just drive slowly and be careful about those turns. Wear waterproof snow boots as you'll step into the snow!

I have been up the byway probably a half dozen times since I been here in Albuquerque. Especially since its snowed, absolutely beautiful. The roads can seem snowy and unsafe. I promise, they salt the roads. At least up to the ski resort the roads seem fine. Beyond that, its a little slippery if you have improper tires. But with good all seasonal and a slow speed, its OK. If the clouds are not lingering above, the view is excellent. A bit cold, the view makes it worth it.