Sandia Crest and The Thumb via La Luz Trail in Cibola National Forest, NM

Hike Sandia Crest and The Thumb via La Luz Trail Cibola National Forest, NM

Class 3 14.9 miles 4400 gain 5-7 hrs Out + Back Apr 21, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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The La Luz Trail #137 is a popular hike that winds up the western slope of the Sandias, the mountains looming over the city of Albuquerque, NM. Most people choose to drive a scenic road to Sandia Crest, the highest point of the range, but the La Luz Trail offers an excellent and well-maintained hike starting from nearly the base of the range. The Sandia Peak Tramway is another option, gliding people from the city up to a point south of the high point. I only rated this hike Class 3 due to an add-on of The Thumb (more on that later), but the La Luz Trail is a heavily trafficked trail without any scrambling.

The La Luz Trail begins amongst scrub and cacti within the foothills, the first mile or so mostly flat as the trail heads south. Using numerous switchbacks, the trail maintains a tame vertical grade for its entirety, but this means a lot more mileage in order to reduce the steepness. We could see Albuquerque below for much of the ascent.

After a few miles, the vegetation began to shift, introducing more trees and larger plants. The trail then led us through more forested switchbacks, eventually reaching a section with mostly horizontal traversing beneath some cliffs. The La Luz Trail enters a major gully, with boulder field obstacles rendered trivial due to the trail’s excellent construction, which incorporates a series of switchbacks. Above us we could see The Thumb, a striking, named pinnacle that rises dramatically above the gully. All around us were beautiful pinnacles, far more impressive up close than they appear from the city below.

The trail reaches the top of the gully and then heads east through the forest to a junction. A trail sign points south to follow the La Luz Trail, but we didn’t want to go that way since it leads to the tram, not the summit. Instead, we took the Crest House Spur Trail #84, which hugs the base of a cliff band, climbs a set of stairs, and ends at the popular summit parking lot. From here, a paved trail reaches the high point.

Most of the photos in this report were taken during our hike in October 2018, but we returned in October 2024 to redo Sandia Crest via La Luz. On the way back, I couldn’t resist revisiting The Thumb. This striking pinnacle, visible for much of the hike, is a daunting-looking spire that hugs the La Luz Trail. Fortunately, it's much more easily accessed by taking its southeastern ridge via a Class 3 route. To reach it, once back within the major talus gully, I left the trail and ascended Class 2 boulders, which steeply led up toward the ridgeline. Before reaching the crest, I veered right into the forest and made my way to the base of a significant headwall along the ridge. I located a short Class 3 move to overcome this obstacle, then continued along the ridge. I passed over several Class 2/2+ obstacles and then encountered the crux, a somewhat exposed ledge with plenty of good holds. A fixed line was in place, but it was unnecessary, and I never recommend using gear left by others. After a bit more light scrambling, I reached the summit of The Thumb. I really enjoyed this perspective of the cliffy face of Sandia Crest. I backtracked and took La Luz back.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Sandia Crest
10678 ft
4098 rise
2
The Thumb
10107 ft
307 rise

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Starting up the La Luz Trail. Sandia Crest is in the center there.
Starting up the La Luz Trail. Sandia Crest is in the center there.
Image 1 from gallery
Looking back along the La Luz Trail.
Looking back along the La Luz Trail.
Image 3 from gallery
Beautiful pinnacles along the La Luz Trail ahead.
Beautiful pinnacles along the La Luz Trail ahead.
Sandia Crest in the center, to the right of those radio towers.
Sandia Crest in the center, to the right of those radio towers.
Image 6 from gallery
Image 7 from gallery
Image 8 from gallery
Image 9 from gallery
Image 10 from gallery
Approaching the boulder-filled gully that the La Luz Trail heads up.
Approaching the boulder-filled gully that the La Luz Trail heads up.
Looking back from within the gully.
Looking back from within the gully.
Sandia Crest on the left way up there.
Sandia Crest on the left way up there.
Image 14 from gallery
Image 15 from gallery
Sunset on the pinnacles below Sandia Crest.
Sunset on the pinnacles below Sandia Crest.
Sandia Crest up to the left.
Sandia Crest up to the left.
It was getting dark when the trail led out of the gully.
It was getting dark when the trail led out of the gully.
A sign marking the La Luz Trail, but don't go that way. Continue toward the Sandia Crest House.
A sign marking the La Luz Trail, but don't go that way. Continue toward the Sandia Crest House.
Some stairs along the trail.
Some stairs along the trail.
Pretty section hugging the cliffline below Sandia Crest.
Pretty section hugging the cliffline below Sandia Crest.
South Sandia Peak visible in the back.
South Sandia Peak visible in the back.
A lookout just before the last few hundred feet to the parking lot.
A lookout just before the last few hundred feet to the parking lot.
Sandia Crest House, the summit just behind it.
Sandia Crest House, the summit just behind it.
Sandia Crest summit, looking out over Albuquerque.
Sandia Crest summit, looking out over Albuquerque.
Sandia Crest summit, looking toward South Sandia Peak.
Sandia Crest summit, looking toward South Sandia Peak.
View back down the Class 2 boulder field. Sandia Crest seen above.
View back down the Class 2 boulder field. Sandia Crest seen above.
Starting up from La Luz toward The Thumb.
Starting up from La Luz toward The Thumb.
Through the forest to the base of a headwall along the crest.
Through the forest to the base of a headwall along the crest.
A Class 3 move to overcome the headwall.
A Class 3 move to overcome the headwall.
View back down along the ridge crest as I continue up to The Thumb.
View back down along the ridge crest as I continue up to The Thumb.
Approaching the Class 3 section.
Approaching the Class 3 section.
Fixed line was in place along the short Class 3 section.
Fixed line was in place along the short Class 3 section.
View back down at the somewhat exposed ledge.
View back down at the somewhat exposed ledge.
Some more scrambling along the ridge.
Some more scrambling along the ridge.
The Thumb summit ahead.
The Thumb summit ahead.
Close-up toward Sandia Crest.
Close-up toward Sandia Crest.
View down into the canyon housing the La Luz Trail we'd hiked up to reach Sandia Crest.
View down into the canyon housing the La Luz Trail we'd hiked up to reach Sandia Crest.
View south toward South Sandia Peak from the summit of The Thumb.
View south toward South Sandia Peak from the summit of The Thumb.

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