Placitas Open Space

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

This area of low hills is a mixture of BLM and Albuquerque Open Space (AOS) land. There is some pleasant singletrack and the coarse gravel makes a good trail tread. Like Strip Mine Trail and other USFS Placitas trails to the south, this is a good winter area with some of the lowest altitudes in the Albuquerque area.

Getting there: Take the Bernalillo Rt 165 exit and head east. After just a couple hundred feet, turn left on the frontage road and head north parallel to I-25. Just beyond the Yearsley driveway ("Trucks Only") turn right on Camino Manzano. After a couple miles, turn left onto Santa Ana Loop. Follow this to Cloud View Ct where you'll find a gate with parking nearby and the trailhead.

Head up the arroyo and after about 0.3 miles you'll turn right and climb to the hilltop. At 0.6 miles, you'll cross under a power line and continue east on singletrack. This section gets faint, so the MTBP app will be helpful. At 0.9 miles, is a saddle and an AOS gate. Beyond is a marked singletrack. Continue to the SE and you'll reach the Pipeline Road trail. After a couple miles, you'll turn to the north and cross Huertas arroyo.

A right turn leads to the east trailhead. Head west and cross the fence back to BLM land. A very steep slope leads down into Huertas arroyo again. Head west and you'll hit the same power line again. Go south on the power line doubletrack, then turn right for the final section of trail that will take you back to the trailhead.