Even though it's not officially spring yet, we do turn the clocks ahead an hour this weekend, and that has us in a spring mindset. If you love to take advantage of the great outdoors and Albuquerque's beautiful scenery, get out your bike and tackle these top 10 trails, courtesy of Newscastic. Which trails do you prefer on your outdoor adventures?
Sandia Peak
Climbing to the top of Sandia Peak is a serious challenge for any rider, but one of the most scenic rides around Albuquerque. If you start in the 4 Hills neighborhood, the climb to the top is 56 miles. It’s a great ride in the summer too, because the trees provide cooler temperatures. Take a little pit stop at the quirky little Tinkertown Museum at the base of the mountain on your way back down, it’s worth the extra 20 minutes.
La Luz Trail
La Luz is great for hikers, runners and bikers alike. It can get steep at times, and is a narrow trail, so this is definitely not for beginners. The La Luz Trail is located just off of Tramway before you hit the Sandia Casino. If you hit the trail late spring and make it to the top, you'll see a fabulous waterfall from melted snow off the Sandias.
Riverside Bike Trail
The Riverside Bike Trail is a great weekend ride. It's roughly 16 miles long, and meanders through the Bosque passing the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, Tingley Beach and the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden. This trail is great for families, as a large part of it is flat and paved.
Tramway Bike Path
Tramway is great for beginners or even advanced riders who just want to take a nice scenic tour on a paved path. You can start on Tramway Blvd. near Central Ave and bike all the way down to I-25. If you want a little bit of a challenge, bike the reverse up from I-25 to Central.
Embudo Canyon Open Space
Open Space trails are great for the mountain biking enthusiasts. Embudo Canyon is no exception. There are a great network of trails that range from easy to moderately difficult.
Elena Gallegos Open Space
Elena Gallegos Open Space also has a great network of trails on a 64-acre park, and you can’t beat the view. It’s at the base of the Sandias, and you can see Mount Taylor near Grants on a good day.
La Llorona Loop
If you're from northern New Mexico, chances are you know the La Llorona tale. Aptly named, this looped trail follows the river and is roughly 32 miles. The loop starts and ends at the UNM Observatory on Yale Blvd.
Paseo del Mesa Trail
The new Paseo del Mesa Trail is a short ride of only eight miles. For those who love to avoid urban trails, this is a great one. This trail starts on the westside, and continues west on Unser as you ride through the Petroglyph National Monument.
Sedillo Hill
Unlike many states around the country, riding on the highway is legal in New Mexico. The ride to Sedillo Hill is all highway, and it’s a long trek. Since you’ll be riding half way to Santa Fe, you could challenge yourself further and ride all the way and get a nice cold beer at the Santa Fe Railyards, and then hop on the Railrunner back to Albuquerque.
Albuquerque Volcanoes Mountain Trail
These popular trails are out among the volanos of the westside of Albuquerque. This network of trails are easy to moderate as they wind through the Petroglyph National Monument. The best time to ride these trails is spring or fall because summertime can be brutal with such a lack of water and trees.
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