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1,795 ft
Distance
187 ft
Climb
00:08:00
Avg time
189 ft
Altitude change
7,514 ft
Altitude min
7,703 ft
Altitude max
7,514 ft
Altitude start
7,703 ft
Altitude end
10.5%
Grade
1.6%
Grade max
42.8%
Grade min
1,795 ft
Distance climb
00:08:00
Avg time
Cienega Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Horse
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaSandia Mountains - Upper East Side
Albuquerque, New Mexico -
Ref Number#148
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Difficulty Rating
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Local Popularity65 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 100 in Trail Running
- 100 in Hiking
- 5 in Horseback
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Global Ranking
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Hiking SAC ScaleT2 Mountain Hiking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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DirectionBoth DirectionsPopular Direction Shown
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Climb DifficultyBlack Diamond
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Physical RatingHard
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SeasonApril-October
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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Land Owner
Cienega trail is a significant trail that climbs all the way to the intersection with the South Crest trail. However, only a short portion of it lies outside of the Wilderness area. This rideable section is good mostly as a connector from the Cienega Picnic Area to the Faulty Trail. It is a short steep climb alongside a small seasonal creek, but it is somewhat difficult to find the entry to the trail from the paved access road, as the trailhead is primarily a maze of paved paths leading to various picnic grounds. In general, follow the large white arrows posted at the trailhead.
Access Info
Multiple Trailheads, all official parking areas are paid ($3) but there are several pullouts along the road where one can avoid paying.
Trail Supporters
USFSLand Manager
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 7 rides
- 10 miles avg distance
All
- 70 rides
- Last: Jun 21, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Cienega Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
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- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
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- < 2 weeks
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- < 6 months
- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
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- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
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Directions to cienega trailhead
(35.169770, -106.384870)
Photos
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Videos
no videos have been added for Cienega yet, add a video.
Routes with this trail
11 miles • 1,862 ft • 7 •
ABQ Enduro Lower Sandia's - 3 stage race, please follow the route exactly as it is laid out.
10 miles • 1,708 ft • 9 •
Transfer - Doc Long - Sulphur Connector, , to Stage 1: Transfer: Wheel, , Cienega Stage 2: DH to Transfer:...
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Nearby Trails
- Cienega Upper Picnic Loop 358 ft
- Nature Loop 1,506 ft
- Acequia To Cienega Nature Loop Connector 1,877 ft
- Acequia 2,129 ft
- Sulphur Canyon 3,278 ft
Sandia Mountains - Upper East Side
- By aldousfilcher
& contributors - #75283 - 1,540 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cienega
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Where is Cienega located?
Cienega is located in Sandia Mountains - Upper East Side, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Sandia Mountains - Upper East Side trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.16977, -106.38487.
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How hard is Cienega?
Cienega is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 10.5%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
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What is the elevation gain for Cienega?
Cienega has 187 ft of elevation gain. The elevation ranges from 7,514 ft to 7,703 ft.
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Is Cienega a point to point trail?
Cienega is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
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