Tecolote Trail, Sandia National Park, New Mexico

ACTIVITIES: Hiking LENGTH OF HIKE: 2 miles OUT AND BACK OR LOOP: Out and back DIFFICULTY OF TERRAIN: Easy–moderate ELEVATION GAIN: 321 feet PARKING FEE/PASS: No TOILETS: Yes CHANGING TABLE: No NURSING BENCHES: No DOGS ALLOWED: Yes BIKES/HORSES/MOTORS ON TRAIL: No CELL RECEPTION: Good DRINKING WATER AVAILABLE: No POTENTIAL CHILD OR BABY HAZARDS: A couple of steep switchbacks GEAR SUGGESTIONS: Water, sunscreen, a good camera with lenses to capture the views This surprising little hike up the east side of the Sandia Mountains is only 30 minutes from Albuquerque but offers spectacular views overlooking the vast valley to the west upon reaching the summit. Our trail pick for this area is called the Tecolote Trail, which translates to “owl” in Spanish, but we’re not quite sure what the reasoning for the naming of this trail is. Also, there are some steep switchbacks going into the hike that you wouldn’t necessarily trust wobbly balance on. But once you reach the top, there’s plenty of flat space to explore. This is a pretty, bare-bones, straight-forward hike. There is no nature center or nursing benches, and the outhouses aren’t open year-round, but the simplicity of it adds to the intrigue as well as keeps the crowds away. Look for a little cave at the beginning of the hike. Then you’ll come to a few steep switchbacks on the ascent and descent. Watch out for cacti that you will want to keep your little ones away from. But other than that, we think you’ll enjoy this little journey through the coniferous pine trees to the viewpoint. As you head up, you’ll stay fairly covered thanks to tall trees surrounding the trail. But once you reach the top, the hike is exposed with shorter trees and shrubs, so be prepared with sunscreen. The best time of year for this hike is in October, when the weather is perfect. You can feel a bit of the crispness of the higher elevation, but the  sun warms the hike perfectly, so you won’t break a sweat. What you’ll enjoy about this hike is the pretty drive and that it’s far enough out of town to really feel like you’re in some backcountry. Yet the trail itself is very manageable and well  groomed. Also as you head up, you’ll stay fairly covered thanks to tall trees surrounding the trail. But once you reach the top, the hike is exposed with shorter trees and shrubs, so be prepared with sunscreen. The best time of year for this hike is in October, when the weather is perfect. You can feel a bit of the crispness of the higher elevation, but the sun warms the hike perfectly, so you won’t break a sweat. What you’ll enjoy about this hike is the pretty drive and that it’s far enough out of town to really feel like you’re in some backcountry. Yet the trail itself is very manageable and well groomed. Also because it’s far enough off the highway and the parking lot isn’t well marked, you’ll never find yourself jockeying for a space, unlike some of the more popular hikes closer to town. Look for a sign more popular hikes closer to town. Look for a sign signaling the hike start just past the outhouse. INSIDER’S TIP Don’t miss all the beautiful perspectives that the summit has to offer of the Sandia National Park along with the sweeping views of the valley. Go slow and really check everything out.