more stats
6.9 miles
Distance
3,369 ft
Climb
-146 ft
Descent
03:02:40
Avg time
3,222 ft
Altitude change
7,041 ft
Altitude min
10,263 ft
Altitude max
7,041 ft
Altitude start
10,262 ft
Altitude end
8.8%
Grade
-18.9%
Grade max
80.4%
Grade min
6 miles
Distance climb
3,747 ft
Distance down
1,201 ft
Distance flat
03:02:40
Avg time

La Luz Details

  • Activities
    • Hike
    • Horse
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Sandia Mountain Wilderness
    Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Ref Number
    #137
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Hiking [+]
    • 100 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #468 in Hiking [+]
    • #6534 in Trail Running
    • #22389 in Horseback
  • State Ranking
    #28 in Hiking · New Mexico [+]
    • #34 in Trail Running
    • #538 in Horseback
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Alpine Trail
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes

The La Luz Trail is one of the best known trails in the Sandia Mountains. It is also one of the most challenging. The trail goes from hot desert landscape to cool Canadian forest, for a length of 7.5 miles one way. The elevation gain is 3,200 vertical feet. It is difficult and rewarding.

Tags
AlpineDesert

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
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6 Months
  • 16 rides
  • 10 miles avg distance
All
  • 44 rides
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La Luz Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Apr 19, 2026 @ 11:27am (America/Ciudad_Juarez)
Apr 19, 2026
About 3 down trees near the top 3 miles
Apr 3, 2026 @ 6:02pm (America/Denver)
Apr 3, 2026
A couple of down trees and some minor snow/ice up top but nothing that will stop you.
Oct 12, 2024 @ 9:39am
Oct 12, 2024
Dec 28, 2023 @ 8:27am
Dec 28, 2023
Snow and snow covered ice above the 5 mile point. Knee deep in some areas. Traction devices (not snowshoes) recommended for the traverses in the...
Dec 10, 2022 @ 8:47am
Dec 10, 2022
Trail gets a bit slick with significant sections of packed snow once you enter the drainage with the talus slopes. Traction devices not necessary,...
more »
Status:
on Apr 19, 2026
Variable
Avg: 4.01 (2 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to la-luz trailhead (35.219260, -106.481130)

      Photos

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      36 |
      Apr 3, 2026 @ 5:38pm
      Apr 3, 2026
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      48 |
      Apr 3, 2026 @ 5:38pm
      Apr 3, 2026
      hike
      46 |
      Apr 3, 2026 @ 5:38pm
      Apr 3, 2026
      hike
      38 |
      Apr 3, 2026 @ 5:37pm
      Apr 3, 2026

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      5.0 ★★★★★
      2 Ratings
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      • #266530 - 3,251 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is La Luz located?
      La Luz is located in Sandia Mountain Wilderness, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Sandia Mountain Wilderness trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.21926, -106.48113.
      ▼ How hard is La Luz?
      La Luz is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 8.8%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for La Luz?
      La Luz has 3,369 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 146 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 7,041 ft to 10,263 ft.
      ▼ Is La Luz a point to point trail?
      La Luz is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is La Luz?
      La Luz is 6.9 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on La Luz?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on La Luz. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to hike La Luz?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to hike La Luz are:
      • September (8 activities)
      • June (7 activities)
      • August (6 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access La Luz? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to La Luz are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to hike La Luz?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 3 hours 33 minutes to hike La Luz. The trail is 6.9 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is La Luz?
      La Luz is a very popular trail. There have been 294 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 310 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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