The Sandias: Albuquerque’s Backyard Escape to Adventure
This week’s blog post does not stray far from the path of last week’s content. Just like many of you out there, I am a hopeless wanderer and dreamer. I am the kind of guy who schedules time while on vacation for nothing other than getting lost and not having a specific agenda to adhere to. I love to get out and explore—I relish a good adventure. In last week’s post, I talked about how amazing New Mexico is for skiing and how people travel from all of our neighboring states and even Mexico to come over to the Land of Enchantment and enjoy our slopes.
For this week, if you already find yourself lucky enough to live in the greater Albuquerque area, you need to travel no further than across town or 10–15 miles to visit the beautiful Sandia Mountain Range.
I have to say, one of the greatest things I learned during my first visit to Albuquerque back in 2003 was that if you ever get lost, all you have to do is locate the Sandia Mountain Range from within Albuquerque and know that is the direction of east, where the sun rises. It sounds a little silly, but it is really helpful if you ever get turned around in the city to just locate the mountain range and regain your bearings. The Sandias span about 17 miles and cap out at just a little over 10,600 feet. For a kid that grew up in northern Alabama, that is a big mountain range. To put it into context, the highest peak of the entire Appalachian Mountain Range, which occupies much of the eastern United States, caps out at only 6,684 feet.
I love the Sandias for several reasons, and the first is that they are beautiful in how they catch the sun and reflect the weather conditions as the seasons change. Snow and low cloud cover on the Sandias are just as breathtaking as the sweet summer sunset that turns them into an odd resemblance of a freshly sliced watermelon. I grew up on watermelon in the summer, especially at every single Fourth of July barbecue, so for me, the Sandias (Spanish for watermelon) are just as familiar as hot dogs with mustard off the grill at a backyard BBQ. The Sandia Mountain Range, along with the foothills that span their base, provides a much-needed urban escape to Albuquerque’s metro area, which is home to nearly one million residents.
There are over 200 miles of hiking and walking trails spread throughout the Sandias, with some beginning as easy-going walking paths that require little more than walking shoes and a bottle of water, to technical climbing with harnesses, ropes, and helmets. Studies consistently demonstrate just how important outdoor spaces and escapes are to city dwellers, as they provide an opportunity to step away from the chaos of the grind and unwind. There are very few cities near the size of Albuquerque’s metropolis that are situated right next door to a fantastic mountain range. From my house in Nob Hill (Central Albuquerque), many of the trails are accessible within a quick 20-minute drive.
If you are looking for your next home and trying to find a place with a lower cost of living without having to sacrifice great outdoor opportunities and escapes to the wilderness, you need to be looking at Albuquerque. When you are ready to learn more from local experts who specialize in helping people move to New Mexico from out of state, hit us up! Here at Heritage & Haven, we are passionate about sharing our great state and real estate opportunities with people who are ready to make a change. If you’re ready for us to create your custom home search and help you move to the Land of Enchantment, connect with us today to schedule your first consultation!
Start your journey today—adventure awaits you in the Land of Enchantment!
