Cibola National Forest · New Mexico, Texas

La Luz

7.1 mi of trail, end to end · La Luz Trailhead and La Luz Trail 137: 7.5 mi one way in the Service's write-up · native material surface · trail No. 05137 · trail class 3 · typical grade 12-20% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking · seasonal: hiking 04/01-11/30

Trailhead La Luz Trailhead and La Luz Trail 137 Drive there

La Luz Trailhead and La Luz Trail 137 7.5 mi one way · 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>

The La Luz trail is 7.5 miles long. It begins at La Luz Trailhead and ends at the Crest Trail 130 near the Sandia Peak Tram Upper Terminal. The La Luz Trail 137 connects with several other trails along the way. Tramway Trail 82; Piedra Lisa-La Luz Link Trail 137C; La Luz 137B; Chimney Canyon Trail 137A and The Crest Spur Trail (leads to the Sandia Crest House)

The La Luz Trail is one of the best known trails in the Sandia Mountains. It is also one of the most challenging. The trail goes from hot desert landscape to cool Canadian forest, for a length of 7.5 miles one way. The elevation gain is 3,200 vertical feet. It is difficult and rewarding.

Do not attempt this hike unless you are well prepared physically, and able to take care of yourself in the event of a mishap in the wilderness . If you complete the hike as described, you are in for five hours (or more) of strenuous hiking.You are also in for spectacular views and true sense of accomplishment for having hiked the trail.

Please stay on the trail. Every year lost hikers are searched for and rescued on the La Luz Trail, with and without injury. Others have not been so fortunate and have lost their lives.

The trail is well worn. Pay attention and follow the path.

Remember : You can also hike part of the trail. There is no rule that says you have to walk the whole trail. Use common sense when hiking. If you feel or think it is time to turn around, do so.

The trail is open for the following uses: Hiking

Please refer to the map links below to plan your course. Cell phone coverage is not guaranteed.

Sandia Crest Trails and Trailheads Map and Sandia Mountain Trail Guide

See "Safety Information" (upper right corner of the page)

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Cibola National Forest

Other trails from the La Luz Trailhead and La Luz Trail 137

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.