At 10,378 feet, the Sandia Peak of the Cibola National Forest provides 11,000 square miles of New Mexico views. And the best way to get to the top of Sandia Peak is by riding the Sandia Peak Tramway—the longest tram ride in the United States.

In the summertime, take the tram up the mountainside to escape the heat; the temperature steadily drops as you float upward. Witness the colors change during the autumn months. During winter, a beautiful white blanket of snow covers the Sandia Peaks. By spring, the snow is starting to melt and the flowers are starting to bloom. While there isn’t a wrong time of year to ride the tram up to the Sandia Peak, there is definitely a busier time of year. Jake and I managed to find one of the busiest times of year—spring break—to take our first tram ride. But that didn’t lessen the magic of the experience. We rode up to the Sandia Peak midday, and back down just as the sun was setting, painting the mountainside pink.

Until next time,

Leah Pinkus