La Luz Trail

I began by parking by the tram at the bottom and taking the 2.7mile Tramway Trail to get to the La Luz Trail. The La Luz Trail is 7 miles to the peak & an additional mile to get to the top of the tram, so total it is a 10.7miles! At mile ~4.6 [on the La Luz portion] there is a lookout point that has gorgeous views and is at 8,800ft elevation. A majority of the hike is a steady incline with many switchbacks. It is not overly challenging until you get to miles 6 & 7 [on the La Luz portion only]. Those 2 miles are done entirely on rocks on the side of the mountain at a steeper incline. This part is very strenuous but good news is the last mile to the tram flattens out.
Overall the hike has unbelievable views and is totally worth it. You are the edge of the mountain the entire time so you always have a great view. Bring plenty of water because you will be hiking for a while, it took me 3 hours & 20 minutes to the 8 miles of the La Luz Trail. When you get to the top it is ~30degrees colder so bring layers because you will be hot hiking and cold at the top. The tram is $ 12 one way and is a great way to end the difficult hike up! Definitely worth it!

Such a great hike!
What’s a better way to see Albuquerque than to hike above it? It’s 7ish miles to the top and another mile or so to get to the tram if you want to take it down so be prepared!

La Luz is one of my favorite trails in the state of New Mexico. Here’s why:
1. It’s close to home — you will see lots of locals on the trail whether running or hiking, a lot of us use it for cross-​training and just to get outside.
2. It’s not for the faint of heart — this is a pretty long and grueling trail. It is strenuous and long, but really not what I would consider difficult, but it’s hard enough to deter the less experienced hikers.
3. It’s a great way to get outside — At about 11 miles long (from the base of the tram) or 9 miles from the trailhead to the top of the tram, it’s a pretty intense hike and for the average hiker about 4+ hours.
4. The views are spectacular — Elevation gains are approximately 3500ft, depending on where you start your hike. You will see all the Albuquerque valley has to offer on this hike.
5. Great excuse to take the tram — living in ABQ the tram tends to get a little unexciting, but doesn’t mean we don’t love it. I like to hike up and take the tram down! You can buy a halfway ticket from the top.
If you choose to do this hike, definitely come prepared. Bring lots of water and a few snacks. I personally like to start early in the morning and make it up to the top for lunch! I bring my own lunch since High Finance is a little expensive!
All in all a great time! I love Albuquerque.

This hike was definitely the highlight of my trip to ABQ. I’m from the Northeast, and I was eager to see some nice landscape and also get some exercise in– La Luz seemed to be a perfect option, and it was not as hard as some of the websites made it out to be. This trail was marked as «Hard» and «Strenuous,» but we both agreed it was Medium at most, but maybe more taxing due to the altitude change (up to ~10,000 ft up top) and the distance (about 9 miles).
We went last weekend, and the recommended month frame for hiking is Spring to Fall. The last few miles of the trail were really icy, and sometimes the trail was really narrow and dangerous. There is about a mile of knee-​deep snow at a decent incline around Mile 6. The beginning of the trail was dry and desert-​terrain-​y.
Few tips:
— bring ample water
— bring food/​snacks/​power bars (there is a Valero gas station and store before the trail, but obviously pricey)
— bring an extra jacket for the end of the trail
— if taking the tram back down, park at the parking lot of the tram, not at the La Luz trailhead (we lacked this common sense tidbit)
— if you are taking the tram, don’t bring your dog
— if you are taking the tram, try not to make it to the top around 3 – 4 PM because skiers will be taking the tram and you will have to wait in line for awhile (tram every 20 – 30 mins)
— bring $ 3 cash for day parking permit (no cashier, exact change needed)
— hiking boots are probably useful, but we were fine with our running shoes
There was no incline where I had to be on all fours. I think the hardest part came around Mile 7 because I was ready to be done with it and not because I was physically tired. That being said, we are almost-​daily gym goers so we weren’t totally out of shape. It took us a little over 4 hours to the top.

Hikes like this I look up at
and then go and have fun. Have fun hiking but don’t over do it .know when to turn back and go home. My legs needed a few beers after this.Yikes.

Ready for a burly trek up the Sandia mountains? Look no further than La Luz.
The first time I heard about this gnarly hiking trail, I was quaffing a brew at the Chama River tap room downtown. Three dudes entered the place covered in sweat and dirt, and they sidled up to the bar. One of them said, «Hey, we just did La Luz, pour us something.» The bartender immediately placed his current orders on hold and serviced the group, and suddenly I knew I needed to get with that zen, whatever it was. I went home and surfed the web to find out what I was missing.
The La Luz trail, while demanding, can be accomplished by the young and old alike. It’s a switch-​back trail that takes you from the bottom to the very top of the mountain, and it’s best accomplished during the spring and fall, when the heat isn’t too harsh and the snow atop has melted. Plan for a day trip. Wear some good shoes. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen and a pack of sandwiches and protein bars. And then get it on.
Along the way you’ll experience the climate and habitat change that encompass the varying degrees of sea level; piñón turn to pine, scrub brush become old man’s beard, cactus wither to host more robust greens and foliage. The whole experience rocks. For the moment, you’ll forget that you live in the high desert, because this towering (nearly 10,000 foot summit) is lush and happy.
And that, friends, is reason enough for a few brews.