Best Outdoor Activities in Albuquerque

Cibola is a National Forest with separate sections extending over the states of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Diverse wildlife inhabits the forest. Hiking is a popular activity as are camping, mountain biking and horseback riding.Home to four National Grasslands namely the Black Kettle, McClellan Creek, Kiowa, and Rita Blanca, Cibola is a massive national forest playing a vital role in preserving the ecology of the state.

This tramway lifts you from the Sandia foothills through five natural life zones to the top of the Sandia Mountains, more than 10,000 feet (3048 meters) above sea level. Time and terrain seem to move in harmony as passengers scout the rugged canyons and lush forests for bighorn sheep and deer. The tram docks alongside the High Finance Restaurant. With 2.7 miles (4.34 kilometers) of sky-view travel, be sure to visit this spot while in Albuquerque.

Balloon Fiesta Park is an ideal place for a lazy Sunday afternoon or a morning walk. Apart from being a venue for ballooning throughout the year, the park also has enough facilities to make it a very entertaining place; the Norther Launch Field, where you can treat your eyes to a colorful display of hot-air balloons, the Albuquerque Golf Training Facility, for the golf enthusiasts, the Albuquerque International Balloon Museum and 8 baseball fields. Regular concerts and other cultural events make Balloon Fiesta Park a popular spot among the citizens.

Volcanoes Park comprises a naturally stark landscape that makes it a great place to hike. Open from sunrise to sunset, be sure to make a stop at the visitor's center beforehand to get familiar this this volcano landscape. To see the main volcanic cones and lava flows, head to the West Mesa, which was formed about 150,000 years ago.

A long, underground culvert leads you to the visitor's center where exhibits explain the geology, wildlife and plant life of the area. Rio Grande Nature Center is a beautiful place to visit with its walking bridge and cottonwood shaded pathways. This wildlife refuge is situated along the Rio Grande and is a great way to learn about the ecosystem of the Bosque. Take a leisurely stroll, bike ride or an invigorating hike on one of the trails.

After a long day of walking around Old Town, touring the New Mexico Museum of Natural History or attending meetings downtown, find a quiet spot under a massive cedar tree in this old park. Sitting between the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and the Albuquerque Museum, Tiguex Park is spacious enough to host soccer and a friendly game of neighborhood football. There always seems to be a game of hoops taking place on one of the park's four basketball courts.

This 13-acre park was built during the Great Depression with funding from then Mayor Clyde Tingley's close friend, President Franklin Roosevelt. Located just east of I-25 and close to the University of New Mexico, the giant trees in this long standing park offer a well-shaded place to run or walk the trails. There are plenty of meandering hills present and an outstanding playground. In the winter, this is an ideal place to go sledding.

If you are up to the challenge of a hike through four life zones, that climbs from 7,080 feet to 10,280 in just under eight miles, La Luz Trail offers you an alpine escape from the concrete jungle. On weekends, the trail is crowded with day hikers, joggers and their pets. The trail switchbacks upward among granite spires, ponderosa pines, and quaking aspens. Near the top, the trail forks. The right fork takes you to Sandia Crest; the left fork terminates at the Sandia Peak Tramway. Be sure to take along plenty of water.