Sandia Peak
Sandia Peak sits along the Turquoise Trail at 10,679 feet, with the land dropping 1,630 feet within 600 meters of the overlook. The view faces 260 degrees, a near-westward orientation that looks toward sunset. The Thumb rises to the southwest a half-mile away at 10,064 feet, while a cluster of lower features spreads to the west and west-northwest: Drinking Fountain Spring, Juan Tabo Overlook, Juan Tabo Picnic Sites, and Family Picnic Site, all between 1.9 and 2.1 miles out and ranging from roughly 6,839 to 7,002 feet. La Cueva Picnic Site lies west at 2.2 miles and 6,529 feet, and W. L. Jackson Park is southwest at 3.2 miles, down at 6,116 feet. Albuquerque is 14.3 miles to the southwest, Rio Rancho 15.0 miles west-northwest, and Santa Fe 43.8 miles northeast. Sunset times shift through the year, from 20:24 at the June solstice to 16:58 at the December solstice, with equinox sunsets near 19:04–19:18.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- The Thumb10,064 ftsouthwest · 0.5 mi
- Drinking Fountain Spring6,999 ftwest · 1.9 mi
- Juan Tabo Overlook7,002 ftwest-northwest · 2.1 mi
- Juan Tabo Picnic Sites6,898 ftwest-northwest · 2.1 mi
- Family Picnic Site6,839 ftwest-northwest · 2.1 mi
- La Cueva Picnic Site6,529 ftwest · 2.2 mi
- W. L. Jackson Park6,116 ftsouthwest · 3.2 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunset — 10° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:10 | 19:18 | 18:44 |
| June solstice | 05:52 | 20:24 | 19:47 |
| September equinox | 06:55 | 19:04 | 18:31 |
| December solstice | 07:11 | 16:58 | 16:19 |
Local time (America/Denver). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Albuquerque14.3 mi southwest
- Rio Rancho15.0 mi west-northwest
- Santa Fe43.8 mi northeast
Take the scenic way to Sandia Peak.
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How high is Sandia Peak?
Sandia Peak sits at about 10,679 feet (3,255 m).
What can you see from Sandia Peak?
From Sandia Peak: The Thumb (SW, 0.5 mi); Drinking Fountain Spring (W, 1.9 mi); Juan Tabo Overlook (WNW, 2.1 mi); Juan Tabo Picnic Sites (WNW, 2.1 mi).
Is Sandia Peak better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. The land falls away from Sandia Peak toward the sunset, so at sunrise the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the nearest town to Sandia Peak?
Albuquerque, 14 miles SW of Sandia Peak.
Drive to Sandia Peak with Byway
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Byways with this lookout
Day trips start here
- Bernalillo · 8 mi
- Cedar Crest · 8 mi
- Albuquerque · 14 mi
- Edgewood · 18 mi
- Madrid · 22 mi
- Central New Mexico · 26 mi
Locals make it Verified.
Sandia Peak — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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