Cibola National Forest · New Mexico, Texas

Ellis

3.3 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 05202 · trail class 2 · typical grade 12-20% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, bike · seasonal: hiking 04/01-11/30

Trailhead Ellis Trailhead, Ellis Trail 202 & FR 488 Drive there

Ellis Trailhead, Ellis Trail 202 & FR 488 the Forest Service's write-up

<ul> <li>Requires a $5&nbsp;fee or a <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cibola/passes-permits/recreation">day-use pass</a>.</li> <li>​CASH OR CHECK ONLY at pay station.</li> <li><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r3/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=FSEPRD1126246" target="_blank">New Mexico Enchantment Pass</a>&nbsp;</li> <li><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r3/passes-permits/recreation" target="_blank">Interagency Passes</a></li> </ul> · season Open year round to

The Ellis trail is 2.7 miles long and begins across the road from the lower parking area of Ellis Traihead. The trail is named for George Ellis who homesteaded Ellis Ranch, in the Sandia Mountains from the 1880's until his death in 1912. Elevation ranges from 9,640 to 10,270 feet for an elevation gain of 630 feet.

Access Forest Road 488 from the upper parking area at the gate.

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

Cell phone coverage is not guaranteed

It is the recreationist’s responsibility to know which trails are designated for motorized vehicles and to follow the guidelines.

It is a multi-user area.

Trail(s) are open for the following uses: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Horseback riding, Cross Country Skiing and Snow Shoeing.

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Cibola National Forest

All 311 trails in Cibola National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.