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Hiking Trails Under 5 km near Albuquerque

We track 156 routes that match this search near Albuquerque. They average 2.1 km and 46 m (151 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 5.0 km.

That is 78 percent of the 199 routes we map near Albuquerque. They are shorter than the local average, 2.1 km against 4.3 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 46 m (151 ft) against 95 m (312 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Short routes for a spare couple of hours, an evening walk, or a day when the weather only gives you a window. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

Easy

Cedro Peak Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
16 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Forest
Easy

Meadow Ridge Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
34 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Alpine meadow
Easy

Sunset Canyon Ridge Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

South Sandia Peak Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Easy

Summit Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
51 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Easy

Birdhouse Ridge

New Mexico · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
89 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Easy

Chamisoso Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
95 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • Forest
Easy

Lower Pine Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
72 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Forest
Easy

Oak Flat Connector Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
28 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Forest
Easy

Forest Service Road 12

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
53 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Forest
  • Alpine meadow
Easy

Meadow Singletrack Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Forest
  • Alpine meadow
Easy

Cedro Creek Nature Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • River
  • Forest
Easy

Cedro Creek Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • River
  • Forest
Easy

Lorenzo Canyon Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

New Canyon Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
69 m
Typical duration
45 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

Otero Canyon Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
60 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

Red Canyon Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
83 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

Rocky Ridge Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
44 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Mountain
Easy

Sabino Canyon East Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

Sabino Canyon West Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
42 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

Sunset Canyon Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

Trail Canyon Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
54 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

Tunnel Canyon Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
91 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

West Ridge Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Mountain
Easy

Cresta Vista Connector Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Easy

Overlook Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
26 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Easy

Vista Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Easy

Meadow Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
34 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Alpine meadow
Easy

Abbey Alley

New Mexico · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Castle and ruins
Easy

Ed Hillsman Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • River
Easy

10k Trail North

New Mexico · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
93 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Forest
Easy

10k Trail South

New Mexico · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
83 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Forest
Easy

3 Bottles Flow Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Forest
Easy

ATV Bypass Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
31 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Forest
Easy

Acequia Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Forest
Easy

Armijo Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
66 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Forest
Easy

Bart's Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
71 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Forest
Easy

Bill Spring Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Forest
Easy

Blue Ribbon Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
58 min
  • Forest
Easy

Bosque Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
67 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Forest
Easy

Caida del Pino Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Forest
Easy

Cajun Pine Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
65 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Forest
Easy

Cajun Turkey Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Forest
Easy

Cañoncito Trail

New Mexico · United States

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
109 m
Typical duration
1 hr 12 min
  • Forest

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Cedro Peak TrailNew Mexico0.7 km16 m11 minEasyApril to October
Meadow Ridge TrailNew Mexico1.6 km34 m23 minEasyApril to October
Sunset Canyon Ridge TrailNew Mexico2.4 km52 m34 minEasyApril to October
South Sandia Peak TrailNew Mexico0.9 km20 m13 minEasyApril to October
Summit TrailNew Mexico2.3 km51 m34 minEasyApril to October
Birdhouse RidgeNew Mexico4.0 km89 m59 minEasyApril to October
Chamisoso TrailNew Mexico4.3 km95 m1 hr 2 minEasyApril to October
Lower Pine TrailNew Mexico3.3 km72 m47 minEasyApril to October
Oak Flat Connector TrailNew Mexico1.3 km28 m19 minEasyApril to October
Pine Flat Connector TrailNew Mexico1.2 km26 m17 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Cedro Peak Trail, Meadow Ridge Trail, Sunset Canyon Ridge Trail. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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