Albuquerque’s most conspicuous and dramatic geographic defining feature, the Sandia mountain range is actually part of the Sandia-Manzano Mountains, and this unusually huge, jagged ridge rises to 10,678 feet above sea level. The Sandia Mountains are located to the east of the city of Albuquerque.
The single most enjoyable way to explore the Sandia Mountains is hiking the various different trails that are scattered throughout the mountain. One of those trails is the trail that leads to the Eye of the Sandias. Because of the difficulty of hiking this trail, it tends to be a lightly populated trail. That makes for a better hiking experience if you prefer hiking a trail that doesn’t have a lot of people on it.
Hiking to the Eye of the Sandias will expose you to the beauty of a desert landscape and you will get to see a variety of wildlife such as rabbits, various types of birds, and possibly even rattlesnakes. Because you are hiking in the desert, you will see plenty of cactus. The cactus may even be in bloom flourishing with beautiful flowers.
The Eye of the Sandias is best described as a local mystery, which was originally painted in the 1960s. Sometime later, it was repainted, and by unknown persons in all cases of the painting. The “Eye” of the Sandias is a painting of the left eye, made on the side of a rock that sits along a hiking path. The painting shows the eye with eyebrow and two drops of tears leaving the eye. If you look at the pupil of the eye you will see the Zia symbol.
Wondering where to find the Eye of the Sandias? Well, it is located on the southwest end of the Sandia Mountains. Most of the route of the trail is facing south with an elevation below 7500 ft. This accounts for the quick melting off of snow during the winter months. There is very little mud on the trail, due to the fact that the ground consists of mostly decomposed granite, which leaves little or no mud when the ground is wet. The loose pebbles make for a challenging hike, especially going downhill as you may slip and slide.
One of the biggest challenges you might encounter as a first-time hiker while hiking the Eye of the Sandias is the trail itself. Accessing the trail toward the Eye of the Sandias is quite easy as you will start you hike at the point where Copper Avenue stops. The trail that leads to the Eye of the Sandias heads toward the mountains at the parking area. While hiking to the Eye of the Sandias there are places where the hike is very steep. The climb up the trail can be incredibly exhausting. There are several long stretches on the trail where the gravel is loose so you’ll need good hiking shoes. There is no tree coverage or shade, so you’ll need to bring plenty of water.
The hike to the Eye of the Sandias has some beautiful views of Albuquerque. The rock formations going up toward the Eye are nothing short of amazing. The majority of the trail to the Eye of the Sandias is a difficult hike. It presents a good challenge for fitness fanatics looking for an incredible cardio workout. While hiking, there are moments when you think you are lost, and you are never going to find the rock that has the eye painted onto it. The moment you get there is a feeling of pride and accomplishment.