ABQJournal Online » Breaking: Fire Danger To Close Sandias
By Journal Staff on Fri, Jun 27, 2008
A large portion of the Sandia Mountains is expected to close Monday.
“We are in extreme fire danger that we’ve never seen before,†said Sandia District Ranger Cid Morgan.
All picnic areas along the Sandia Crest Highway (N.M. 536) should remain open except for Nine Mile and Cienega Picnic Ground, but all back country hiking trails will be closed. The Foothill Trail will remain open.Karen Takai, fire information officer for the Sandia Ranger District, said N.M. 165 will be closed from Placitas to the Balsam Glade Picnic Area except by special permit. Takai emphasized that the trail closures will including the popular La Luz Trail and the trail between the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway and Sandia Peak. The tram and the peak will remain open.
ABQJournal Online » Breaking: Fire Danger To Close Sandias
ABQJournal Online » Maps of Area Forest Closures
OPEN areas include
• Sandia Crest Observation Area, Sandia Peak Tram and associated facilities, Sandia Peak Ski Area and associated facilities, and Sandia Crest House
• Recreation Day Use Sites: Cienega Canyon, Sulphur Canyon, Pine Flat, Doc Long (front of site only), Balsam Glade.
• Sandia Ranger District Administrative Site and the Tijeras Pueblo Interpretive Trail.
Open Trails: Those portions of Forest Trail 365, including secondary trails associated with Forest Trail 365, outside of the Sandia Mountain Wilderness, and South of the Tram.
Sandia Peak Ski Area mountain bike/hiking trails within the ski area
Open Roads:
• Forest Road 190 to Cienega Canyon Day Use Area.
• Forest Road 242
• Forest Road 413
The open areas are still under Stage II Fire Restrictions which include no smoking, fireworks, fires, stoves, grills, or open flame ; COLD PICKNICKING ONLY. No Dispersed Day Use and/or Camping is allowed along open Forest Service Roads or along State Highway 165.