Attraction of the Week: The Sandia Peak Tramway
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Mike and I recently planned a trip to Albuquerque to enjoy some great food, hiking, and mountain scenery. It was a pretty close drive from Flagstaff so we figured why not check it out while living in close proximity. The great thing about living in nothern Arizona is that there are so many amazing roadtrips. We really wanted to ride the famous tramway as we have taken many of these rides all over and have never been disappointed. The 2.7 mile long Sandia Peak tramway is one of the longest aerial rides in the world. The 3.5 mile long Tatev in Armenia overtook the title in 2010 according to this Bloomberg article.
2026 will mark the tram’s 60th anniversary. A 15 minute ride will take you to the top of the 10,378 foot tall Sandia Crest, the highest point in the Sandia mountains. This mountain range is located within the Cibola National Forest. This is a great place to hike if you are up for an adventure or you can opt to enjoy the mountains in a more relaxing way via this ride. The name “Sandia” means watermelon in Spanish. This is speculated to be due to the gorgeous reddish color of the mountains at sunset.
You will be taking off at an altitude of just 6559 feet and soaring up past 10,000 for a massive 4000 foot elevation gain. This means that the temps can be up to 30 degrees cooler at the top, so bring a jacket even during the hot summer months. Living in the desert, I am now accustomed to these drastic temperature changes. Always be prepared!
The ride up is a bit cramped due to the crowds (the tram holds 50 people and supports up to 10,000 pounds!), however, the scenery is beautiful and constantly changing due to the drastic elevation differences from when you start to the top. There is just so much to look at the entire journey up. I found myself reaching for camera every few seconds and took way too many pictures.
A view of the tram itself
Enchanting mountain scenery just prior to sunset
I love the gorgeous pines covering the mountains. What a picture-perfect scene!
Activities at the summit
At the top, you can participate in a number of recreational activities including hiking and biking. There are miles of trails to consider if you are up for a workout. There are over 100 trails, with options ranging from a half mile nature walk to an all day adventure. From my time living in northern Arizona, I learned that hiking at high altitude is much harder, so don’t go out past your comfort level. For a more relaxing option, simply enjoy the scenery from the observation deck or plan for a meal at the mountain side restaurant (TEN 3).
Take some time to look out and enjoy the view; this truly is an amazing viewpoint. If you are lucky, you may see a black bear or mountain lion. A diverse range of animals call these mountains home.
The best part of the tram ride is taking photos and enjoying the scenery from the observation deck. Check out the incredible vistas at sunset! I highly recommend planning your trip at this time if you can. We didn’t even purposely time our adventure at sunset; it’s just the only time in our day we could incorporate a ride. But I am glad that it worked out this way! True to the name in every way!
Best time to plan your ride
For anyone visiting from a hot desert area like Tucson or Phoenix, spring and summer temps will be much cooler thanks to the high elevation. This should be a treat. Also, I would not rule out a fall or winter trip. During the fall, you will get to enjoy some leaf peeping. If you have never seen how gorgeous the golden aspens are out west, you are in for a treat. Wintertime you can enjoy some snowcapped scenery and enjoy activities like skiing and snowshoeing.
No matter what time of the day you visit, the views will impress. If you visit during the daytime, you will take in gorgeous views of the entire city as well as picturesque views of the mountains and the beautiful diverse plant life which includes everything from desert scrub to ponderosa pines. Nighttime offers a completely different, yet just as breathtaking view of the city lights. No skyline view, yet still peaceful and beautiful scenery. We lucked out and enjoy a bit of both due to lucky timing.
My top recommended activity in this area
Overall, a ride is a great addition to any Albuquerque vacation itinerary. It’s pricey, yet still worth it in my opinion because the scenery is awesome and there is a lot to do after the ride. For those limited on time/unable to hike, take this ride as an alternative.
For an extreme challenge, you can hike the 9 mile La Lutz Trail up to the tramway and then purchase a cheaper one way ticket back down. Note: only experienced hikers should attempt this hike due to the rough terrain, distance and high altitude. As someone always up for a challenge, I would love to attempt this hike on my next visit. I love the food and scenery in this area, so I am sure that I will be back before I leave Arizona!
Address, hours, & pricing Info
Location: 30 Tramway Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122
Hours: 9am-8pm uphill (the last tram goes down at 10pm). Trips take off every 20-30 min.
Rates: $34 adults, $98 seniors, $29 Teens (13-20), $24 kids (2-12), Under 2 free. One way is $23. All tickets must be purchased online. Pricing current as of 2025. Do check the website for updated info.
