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Lookout · Historic Route 66

Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook

U.S. Forest Service
Looking south-east from Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook. Terrain and imagery at true elevation.
Overview · Assembled from verified data

Balsam Glade Nature Trail sits at 8,617 feet along Historic Route 66, facing 120 degrees with terrain dropping 632 feet within 600 meters of the overlook. Dry Camp Picnic Ground is visible to the south, 0.9 miles away at 8,660 feet. The facing direction points roughly toward sunrise, offset 30 degrees from due east; sunrise times across the year range from about 05:52 at the June solstice to 07:11 at the December solstice, with sunset ranging from 16:58 in December to 20:24 in June. Albuquerque lies 16.4 miles west-southwest, Rio Rancho 17.1 miles west-northwest, and Santa Fe 42.1 miles northeast. The nature trail itself begins within the Balsam Glade Picnic Site, running 0.3 miles one way with about 40 feet of elevation gain between 8,620 and 8,660 feet, making it a short, low-effort walk. Along the path stand the remaining steps of a former YMCA camp chowhall that operated from about 1935 to 1941. Cell phone coverage is not guaranteed in the area. Madera Overlook precedes this stop, and Bodhi Tree follows it along the route.

Access
On the byway
Elevation
8,617 ft
View
Southeast · 120°
Light
Best at sunrise
Relief
632 ft drop
In view
1 named features
Photos · Real imagery only
Aspens in the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque. Panorama made from three images.
BFS Man from Webster, TX, USA · CC BY 2.0 · source
Robinia neomexicana was abundantly flowering along the lower stretches of the Sandia Crest Scenic Highway during late May 2020. It is codominant with Quercus gambelii, Gambel Oak, in this area.
Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Robinia neomexicana was abundantly flowering along the lower stretches of the Sandia Crest Scenic Highway during late May 2020. It is codominant with Quercus gambelii, Gambel Oak, in this area.
Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Robinia neomexicana was abundantly flowering along the lower stretches of the Sandia Crest Scenic Highway during late May 2020. It is codominant with Quercus gambelii, Gambel Oak, in this area.
Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Robinia neomexicana was abundantly flowering along the lower stretches of the Sandia Crest Scenic Highway during late May 2020. It is codominant with Quercus gambelii, Gambel Oak, in this area.
Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Robinia neomexicana was abundantly flowering along the lower stretches of the Sandia Crest Scenic Highway during late May 2020. It is codominant with Quercus gambelii, Gambel Oak, in this area.
Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
In view · Named features

What you’re looking at

Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.

  • Dry Camp Picnic Ground8,660 ftsouth · 0.9 mi
When to look · Sun at this latitude

Light

This overlook faces sunrise — 30° off square to it.

DateSunriseSunsetGolden hour
March equinox07:1019:1818:44
June solstice05:5220:2419:47
September equinox06:5419:0418:31
December solstice07:1116:5816:19

Local time (America/Denver). Computed for this exact position.

Getting there · Position and access

Where it is

  • Albuquerque16.4 mi west-southwest
  • Rio Rancho17.1 mi west-northwest
  • Santa Fe42.1 mi northeast
← Before it: Madera OverlookAfter it: Bodhi Tree →
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From the source · Verbatim

Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook · U.S. Forest Service

Balsam Glade Nature Trail Trailhead is within the Balsam Glade Picnic Site. The nature trail begins at an elevation of 8,620’ to 8,660’ for an elevation gain of 40 feet It is 0.3 miles one way and is a good trail to introduce to young and old, as there is little elevation gain and the rewarding view at La Madera Overlook is amazing. Along the path, to your right you'll find the steps of old YMCA Camp chowhall that operated from about 1935 to 1941.

Please refer to the Sandia Mountain Trails map to plan your course.

The interpretive trail is a short, stand-alone trail within the picnic area.Cell phone coverage is not guaranteedTrail(s) are open for the following uses: Hiking

Read it at U.S. Forest Service →
Common questions

How high is Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook?

Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook sits at about 8,617 feet (2,627 m).

What can you see from Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook?

From Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook: Dry Camp Picnic Ground (S, 0.9 mi).

Is Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook better at sunrise or sunset?

Sunrise. The land falls away from Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook toward the sunrise, so at sunset the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.

What is the nearest town to Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook?

Albuquerque, 16 miles WSW of Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook.

What is the next lookout after Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook?

Bodhi Tree is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Balsam Glade Nature Tr - La Madera Canyon Overlook.

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