Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter

Summer Solstice Celebration Hike June 21, 2025 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Sign up here: https://www.riograndesierraclub.org/calendar/

Celebrate the summer solstice with a mountaintop hike. Well depart from the Sandia Crest Trailhead parking lot at 10,600 feet ASL and proceed southward for views of the city and the continental divide. This hike is rated as easy-moderate and is approximately three miles round trip with 300 feet of elevation gain. We will proceed southward to the upper tram station and enjoy views of the city, all the way to the continental divide.
This outing is appropriate for children 12 and up with parent or legal guardian. Responsible pet owners with their dogs on leash for the duration of the hike may join. No leash-aggressive dogs.
Meet at the parking area no later than 9:00 a.m. for safety brief and introductions. This hike is sponsored by the Sierra Club Military Outdoors Program and everyone is welcome.
Directions: From Albuquerque, drive east on I-40 to Exit 175 toward Cedar Crest/NM-14. Follow NM-14 aka the Turquoise Trail northward toward Santa Fe for approximately 6.5 miles, to NM-536/Sandia Crest Scenic Byway. Turn left onto NM-536 and follow it for about 14 miles up the mountain where youll come to the end of the road and a large parking area. Trailhead parking will be on your left. Park in the mid-level parking lot. Bring $5 cash for amenity fee or have Cibola Forest or other appropriate United States parks pass. Driving time from the Central Ave/Tramway Blvd on-ramp is approximately 55 minutes.
Recommended attire and gear: Anticipate temperatures 10-15 degrees cooler than in the city. Walking shorts or long pants, long sleeved shirt and ball cap, boonie hat or sunhat. Well broken in footwear with good tread such as trail-runners, hiking boots or tennis shoes are required. No open toed shoes or sandals will be permitted. Gear: Bring at least 1 (one) liter of water and snacks, sunscreen, lip sunscreen, sunglasses and any additional, desired health & comfort items in a backpack, daypack or fanny pack. You'll also want to bring a hoody sweatshirt, windbreaker or fleece pullover. Trekking poles are optional.
Lat: 35.210683 X Long: -106.448994
Leader: Terry Owen, 505-301-4349, teowen@comcast.net
Level: Easy-Moderate Location: East Mountains of Albuquerque
Sign up here: https://www.riograndesierraclub.org/calendar/

Saturday July 5 5:45 PM- 8:30 PM Short hike & dinner at Kiwani's cabin in the Sandias

This is something I've done with friends and family for a while now and I thought I would share. Let's all either make a sandwich or buy one (I like banh mi) and bring it and our supplies to the lower parking lot where the TV towers are at the top of the Sandias, one of our beautiful national forests. We will meet at the parking lot at 5:45 pm. Then it's a short hike (about 2 mi, approx 300 ft elev gain) to the Kiwani's cabin where we will eat dinner and watch the day come to an end before we go home in a relaxed state.
Pace will be relaxed, but please remember you will be at 10,000 ft so a level of fitness is recommended for your own safety.
if you'd like to download the trail in advance, the link is provided.
Sunset won't be till 8:24 according to timeanddate.com so those who would like to can linger at the overlook by the parking lot. Just be aware that the moon will only be a waxing crescent, so not much light from the moon.
Dogs are welcome as long as they are NOT leash aggressive or food aggressive and you clear it with the leader in advance.
This will be a "LEAVE NO TRACE" event so everything you bring Must come back with you from the cabin.
All trails link to the trail is: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-mexico/kiwanis-cabin-via-south-crest-130-and-gravel-pit-339-loop

RSVP by July 1, sign up limited to 16 people. Link is: https://www.riograndesierraclub.org/calendar/
Signup restrictions: Children who know to stay away from the edge and are over 13 only are allowed. Dogs are allowed if not leash aggressive or food aggressive and must be on a leash, and you clear it with the leader in advance.
Bring: water, your dinner, non-slip shoes with grooves on the bottom (for your kids as well). Hiking poles if desired, Flashlight or headlamp JUST IN CASE WE ARE DELAYED RETURNING.
Driving Directions: from ABQ: take I40E or hwy 66E to Tijeras. if on I40, take exit 175 toward NM14 towards cedar crest. Merge onto NM-333/Hwy 66. Drive thru Cedar crest. Take a left onto the Sandia Crest Scenic Hwy (NM 536). The parking lot will be on your left about 1 mi past the sign for Ellis trailhead, This drive takes about 1 hr.

Level: Easy (ground is uneven/rocky)
Location: top of Sandias near ABQ. Parking at TV towers lower parking lot
Leader: Debbie Bryant 832 692 1881 bryade@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, July 9 Zero Waste E-Recycling Tour, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

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Albuquerque Computer and Electronics Recycling Company. Find out what you can e-recycle beyond just computers and cell phones and what happens to it all. We will be standing indoors the whole time so wear comfortable closed-toed shoes. Limit is 12 people. Register by Mon. July 8.
Level: Easy
Leader: Laurie Zunner, 505-440-5337, lmzunne@gmail.com
Location: 3726 Hawkins St. NE, Albuquerque

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Directions: Hawkins St. is 1 block north of Ellison. Turn west on Hawkins off of Jefferson and go down almost to the end. Turn left at the sign on the left and go about half way. It will be on the right.