more stats
1.0 mile
Distance
33 ft
Climb
-167 ft
Descent
00:13:10
Avg time
-134 ft
Altitude change
10,440 ft
Altitude min
10,589 ft
Altitude max
10,578 ft
Altitude start
10,443 ft
Altitude end
-2.5%
Grade
-18.6%
Grade max
12.6%
Grade min
1,004 ft
Distance climb
3,415 ft
Distance down
873 ft
Distance flat
00:13:10
Avg time

Switchback Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Sandia Mountain East Side Trails
    Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Ref Number
    #271
  • Difficulty Rating
    Green Rate
  • Local Popularity
    30 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 60 in Trail Running
    • 45 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #128208 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #142049 in Trail Running
    • #152038 in Hiking
    • #25580 in Horseback
  • State Ranking
    #1,060 in Mountain Biking · New Mexico [+]
    • #1,080 in Trail Running
    • #1,477 in Hiking
    • #639 in Horseback
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    DH, AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Easy
  • Season
    Summer
  • Family Friendly
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm
  • Land Owner
    Cibola Nat. Forest

Switchback begins at the Sandia Crest Lower Parking area and is a good starting point for shuttles. From the south end of the parking lot, follow the gated road to the trail entrance. Aptly named, it was originally built as a cross country ski trail, but is widely used for hiking and biking. The trail enters dense forest and goes over rocks and roots before exiting joining a short section of the South Crest Trail to continue as the lower Switchback trail.

Tags
BermsFamily friendlyShuttle access

Trail Supporters

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
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6 Months
  • 0 rides
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All
  • 68 rides
  • Last: Mar 28, 2026
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Switchback Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
May 6, 2026 @ 8:42am (America/Denver)
May 6, 2026
 reporter Area Closure for Sandia Crest “Switchback” Hazard Tree and Fuel Reduction Project. See...
May 26, 2025 @ 10:25am
May 26, 2025
 reporter
Aug 2, 2024 @ 9:39am
Aug 2, 2024
 Be aware some lines throughout Switchback and Buried Cable have been blocked by sticks, etc. Some can come up quick and are in areas where the...
Nov 15, 2023 @ 11:45am
Nov 15, 2023
 more snow patches but passable.
Jun 19, 2023 @ 2:34am
Jun 19, 2023
more »
Status:
on May 6, 2026
Dry
Avg: 4.24 (2 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to switchback-96029 trailhead (35.208890, -106.447430)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      1 more »
      mtb
      106 |
      Oct 18, 2025 @ 8:02am
      Oct 18, 2025

      Videos

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      Routes with this trail

      93
      Ski Area Bonanza
      ★ 5.0 • 22 miles • 3,710 ft • 33 • Loop •
      This is a real fun route that gets all of the best stuff in the Sandia Ski Area system. This route...
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      Sandia Top to Bottom with Armijo
      15 miles • 962 ft • 9 •
      Top to bottom plus Armijo
      5.0 ★★★★★
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      5 ★ 100%
      4 ★
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

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      Nearby Trails

      Sandia Mountain East Side Trails

      • By clrob24TF Pro & contributors
      • #96029 - 1,391 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Switchback located?
      Switchback is located in Sandia Mountain East Side Trails, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Sandia Mountain East Side Trails trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.20889, -106.44743.
      ▼ How hard is Switchback?
      Switchback is rated as Green difficulty. The physical rating is Easy. The average grade is 2.5%. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Switchback?
      Switchback has 33 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 167 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 10,440 ft to 10,589 ft.
      ▼ Is Switchback a point to point trail?
      Switchback is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Switchback?
      Switchback is 1.0 mile long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Switchback?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Switchback. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Switchback?
      Switchback is best visited during: Summer.
      ▼ How do I access Switchback? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Switchback are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Switchback?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 13 minutes to ride Switchback. The trail is 1.0 mile long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Switchback?
      Switchback is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 313 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 341 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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