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Birdhouse Ridge

 4.1 (8)
  1. Areas
  2. NM
  3. …Central New Mexico
  4. …Albuquerque
  5. Manzanita Mountains Trail System
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Length

2.6 Miles 4.1 Kilometers


Singletrack

Elevation

13' 4 m

Ascent

-654' -199 m

Descent

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

7,222' 2,201 m

High

6,580' 2,006 m

Low

Conditions

Bad / Closed 4 days ago
Entire trail system is closed due to extreme fire danger. History
Getting forecast...

“A great alternate start or finish, to/from the Tunnel Canyon trailhead. ”

— LeeAB Brinckerhoff
GPX File — Driving Directions

Overview

May be closed during the summer months due to fire danger, check with the ranger station for details.
Dogs: Leashed

Description [Suggest Changes]

This trail was cut in 2011 by FOO and the forest service, and is a great addition. It is mostly flat and downhill if you start from the West Ridge Trail.

Starting from the West Ridge junction you'll quickly come to a small burned out area that offers a great view of the back side of the Sandia Mountains. From here things start to drop with lots of twists and turns as the trail contours more along a hillside than a ridge. There are also a few sections with rock ledges but nothing too technical.

Eventually you really start to go down on an open hillside and you'll encounter a couple of hairpins, then a longer straight section with some more rocky bits followed by 2 more hairpins. The trail then enters the trees again for the last fast, flowing bit before you pop out onto the Tunnel Canyon Trail less than 100 yards from the Tunnel Canyon Trailhead.

You can also climb the trail as an alternate approach to the West Ridge.

Contacts

Local Club: AMBA

Land Manager: USFS - Cibola National Forest Office

Jun 10, 2018: Closures to be implemented due to the extreme fire danger level

Jun 4, 2018: Se establecieron restricciones para el uso del fuego en todo el Bosque Nacional Cibola y en las pastizales nacionales

Jun 3, 2018: Cibola Supervisors Office will be closed on Monday, June 11

You & This Trail


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Your Check-Ins

Check-Ins

Jun 13, 2018
Tenzin Chuteng
May 30, 2018
Kings Josh
Apr 8, 2018
Alfred Baughman
Nov 24, 2017
Heather Goodrich
Sep 19, 2016
Frank Skimahorn
Don't let the blue rating fool you. This trail is hard when going uphill. It is quite ledgy. Most will be putting some feet down occasionally.
May 5, 2014
Richard Noland
Mar 21, 2014
John Geronimo
Apr 25, 2013
skelldify
First time on this. What a great trail! It was a liiitle loose, but that added to the fun! Lots of off camber, w/rocks that are REALLY off-camber.

Stewarded By

Stewarded by AMBA
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 8 votes

#5

in Manzanita Mountains Trail System

#4799

Overall
  4.1 from 8 votes
5 Star
25%
4 Star
63%
3 Star
13%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Rankings

#5

in Manzanita Mountains Tr…

#111

in New Mexico

#4,799

Overall
22 Views Last Month
1,243 Since Apr 2, 2013
Intermediate Intermediate
0%
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57%
43%
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Photos

View of the Sandias and Cedro peak as you leave the burn scar on top.
View of the Sandias and Cedro peak as you leave…
 4
Tunnel Canyon has some really challenging climbs.
Tunnel Canyon has some really challenging climbs.
 4
The rocky start to the West Ridge Trail from the junction with the Tunnel Canyon Trail.
The rocky start to the West Ridge Trail from th…
 3
Nice new trails thanks to FOO and the FS.
Nice new trails thanks to FOO and the FS.
 2
The culvert tunnel under "South 14" is well-lit and easily rideable but does include a large rock part way through
The culvert tunnel under "South 14" is well-lit…
 3
View of the backside of the Sandia Mountains
View of the backside of the Sandia Mountains
 3

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