Sandia Mountain Wilderness
Encyclopedia
Sandia Mountain Wilderness, part of Cibola National Forest
, is located east of Albuquerque, New Mexico
. It became part of the National Wilderness Preservation System
in 1978 by an act of the United States Congress
and has a total of 37877 acres (15,328.3 ha).
The wilderness is under the authority of the United States Forest Service
. Because of its close proximity to Albuquerque it has one of the most used trail systems in the state. Most tourists access the wilderness area either by way of the Sandia Ariel Tramway or by driving by way of the Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway.
To the south there is the Manzanita Mountains that form a low ridge separating the Manzano Mountain range to the south and the Sandia Mountains to the north.
The 1980 amendment was used to add certain portions of the Chibola National Forest to the Wilderness area. In 1982, boundaries were amended so that some of the lands on the western side of the mountain range could be exchanged with Albuquerque, NM. Finally in 1984, the San Juan Basin located in the northwest corner of New Mexico was put under the protection of the Wilderness Act and made a part of the Sandia Mountain Wilderness. Since then, no new boundary amendments have been made.
The upper parts of the Sandia Mountains have a lot of tree cover made up mostly of firs and spruce trees, with ponderosas and conifers inhabiting the middle elevations.
Once at the crest of the Sandia Mountains, there are approximately 26.5 miles (42.6 km) of trial that run along the ridge (known as Crest Trail) at an average elevation of 10000 feet (3,048 m). In addition to Crest Trail, the Sandia Mountain Wilderness has around 117 miles (188.3 km) worth of trails that are maintained by the Forest Service.
Cibola National Forest
The Cibola National Forest is a United States National Forest in western and central New Mexico, USA. The forest also manages four National Grasslands that stretch from northeastern New Mexico eastward into the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. It is administered by the United States Forest...
, is located east of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. It became part of the National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
in 1978 by an act of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and has a total of 37877 acres (15,328.3 ha).
The wilderness is under the authority of the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
. Because of its close proximity to Albuquerque it has one of the most used trail systems in the state. Most tourists access the wilderness area either by way of the Sandia Ariel Tramway or by driving by way of the Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway.
Geography
The Sandia Mountain Wilderness comprises the Sandia Mountain Range that runs from north of Albuquerque along the eastern side of the city in central New Mexico. The range itself is rather small, only spanning about 18 miles (29 km) from north to south, and 8 miles (12.9 km), east to west. Almost the entire range is part of the Chibola National Forest area, including the Sandia Mountain Wilderness. The Wilderness area itself lies mostly on the western side of the mountains with a few trails and areas that cross over onto the eastern side.To the south there is the Manzanita Mountains that form a low ridge separating the Manzano Mountain range to the south and the Sandia Mountains to the north.
Geology
The dominating rock type in the Sandia Mountains is granite with a ribbon of limestone running along the crest. Portions of the Sandia Granite have also been proven to be over a billion years old.History
The Sandia Mountain Wilderness is part of the 109 million acres (441,107.7 km²) National Wilderness Preservation System that was created by the US Congress with the Wilderness Act of 1964, thought it did not become a part of the system until 1978. Since its origin, the Sandia Mountain Wilderness has had its boundaries increased during the early nineteen eighties.The 1980 amendment was used to add certain portions of the Chibola National Forest to the Wilderness area. In 1982, boundaries were amended so that some of the lands on the western side of the mountain range could be exchanged with Albuquerque, NM. Finally in 1984, the San Juan Basin located in the northwest corner of New Mexico was put under the protection of the Wilderness Act and made a part of the Sandia Mountain Wilderness. Since then, no new boundary amendments have been made.
Plant life & Wildlife
Some of the most common animals seen in the Sandia Wilderness are mule deer, black bears, raccoons, bobcats, and various species of squirrel. There are also many birds of prey that live and migrate within the Sandia Mountain Wilderness including golden eagles and various species of hawks. Other birds such as road runners, stellar's jays, ravens, and canyon wrens can also be found on in the mountains.The upper parts of the Sandia Mountains have a lot of tree cover made up mostly of firs and spruce trees, with ponderosas and conifers inhabiting the middle elevations.
Paths and trails
The Sandia Mountain Wilderness has one of the longest tramways in the world traveling 2.7 miles (4.3 km) and climbing nearly 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) to the crest of the Sandias. The Sandia Peak Ariel Tramway was designed by a team of Swiss engineers that had designed similar systems in the Alps. The Tram had never had an accident or injury since its opening in 1966. It has three terminals along its trip that passengers can get of on at elevations of 7010 feet (2,136.6 m), 8750 feet (2,667 m), and its final tower and 10300 feet (3,139.4 m).Once at the crest of the Sandia Mountains, there are approximately 26.5 miles (42.6 km) of trial that run along the ridge (known as Crest Trail) at an average elevation of 10000 feet (3,048 m). In addition to Crest Trail, the Sandia Mountain Wilderness has around 117 miles (188.3 km) worth of trails that are maintained by the Forest Service.