The Sandia Peak Tramway Experience: A Must-Do in Albuquerque, NM
The Sandia Peak Tramway is one of Albuquerque’s most iconic attractions, offering breathtaking views and a unique experience. Nestled in the Sandia Mountains, this tramway takes you on a scenic journey to the summit, providing a vantage point unlike any other.
Where It’s Located
The Sandia Peak Tramway is located at the eastern edge of Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you’re staying in or around Old Town, it’s about a 25-minute drive to the tramway.
Address: Sandia Peak Tramway 30 Tramway Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122
Hours of Operation
The tramway operates year-round, but hours vary depending on the season. Generally, it opens mid-morning and runs until late evening, with the last tram departing around sunset. Be sure to check the official website for up-to-date operating hours and seasonal closures.
Tram schedules are also affected by the weather so be sure to check the daily forecast and tram schedule on the morning of the day you want to ride.
A Brief History of the Sandia Peak Tramway
The Sandia Peak Tramway was completed in 1966 and was a marvel of engineering at the time. Conceived as a way to boost tourism and provide easier access to the Sandia Mountains, the project was spearheaded by Robert Nordhaus and Ben Abruzzo. Pre-construction planning for the tram took about two years and then actual construction took another two years. Building involved meticulous planning and overcoming significant challenges, such as transporting materials to remote and rugged locations (they used a helicopter to deliver product)!
When it opened, the tramway was the longest in the world and remains one of the longest aerial tramways today, spanning 2.7 miles. It has become a beloved symbol of Albuquerque and continues to draw visitors from around the globe. On average, the tram makes 10,5000 trips per year! It has been carefully maintained and updated over the years to ensure safety and enhance the visitor experience, including updates in 2024!
Click here to read more about the history and construction.
What to Expect – The Full Sandia Peak Tramway Experience
The tramway experience begins with a ticket purchase either online or at the base of the tramway. The tram cars, suspended by steel cables, glide smoothly up the mountain, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
During the 15-minute ride, you’ll ascend over 10,000 feet to Sandia Peak, where temperatures are cooler, and the air feels crisp and refreshing.
Once at the top, you can explore hiking trails, enjoy dining at Ten 3, the mountaintop restaurant (reservations highly recommended), or simply soak in the views.
When to Visit
For the best experience, plan your visit during the spring or fall when the weather is mild. Sunrise and sunset rides are particularly popular.
Albuquerque has beautiful sunsets. On a ride up during sunset, you’ll see the beautiful orange and pink sky as the sun goes down and then also get to experience the city night lights once it’s dark on your way down.
*Keep in mind that sunset times are busy, and lines can be long!*
My Personal Sandia Peak Tramway Experience
I had signed up for the sunset ride, eager to capture the golden hour magic from the summit. Unfortunately, my timing didn’t quite work out as planned. By the time I reached Sandia Peak, the sun was setting, and I watched it mostly set from the base of the mountain while standing in line. It was still beautiful though.
When I was able to load up onto the tram, I was surprised by the amount of people they packed into the cart. Each cart can hold up to 50 people. We were literally unable to move, standing shoulder to shoulder, which surprised me.
I didn’t want to be rude and take up a window space, but I also knew this may be my only chance to visit so I took my spot in the window and some people were stuck in the middle of the cart and didn’t get great views.
I was also surprised at how scratched up the windows of the tram were. It makes sense with the number of guests riding and how tightly everyone is squeezed into the cart, but it still surprised me. It’s not easy to get photos from inside the tram because of this.
While I didn’t get the glowing sunset views I’d hoped for, the experience was still magical. We had light for about half the ride and then darkness took over and we rode up in complete pitch blackness. The city below sparkled like a blanket of stars, and the tram ride offered a unique perspective of Albuquerque’s night skyline.
Capturing photos in the dark proved to be challenging, but I wasn’t disappointed. The atmosphere and the city lights made the experience worthwhile. It’s a reminder to plan ahead if you’re hoping for that perfect sunset shot, but also to embrace the unexpected moments that make travel so memorable.
How Long Does It Take?
The tram ride itself takes about 15 minutes each way. You can choose to ride up and then get in line and ride right back down or you can spend time at the top hiking, taking in the views, or even dining at Ten 3 if you made a reservation.
During busy times, such as sunset, wait times for the tram can be significant, so factor this into your schedule. I planned to just ride up, turn around, and ride back down, but I was still at the top for over an hour simply because of the wait time to get back down. There is no reservation time for getting back down, you just hop on the next available tram.
Depending on when you visit, it can be quite a bit colder at the top of the peak so be sure to dress appropriately for your wait!
I’d say to budget a couple of hours for your visit at a minimum. That includes waiting at the base, the 30 minutes of actual ride time, and the waiting at the top.
Final Thoughts
The Sandia Peak Tramway experience is something you do not want to miss when visiting Albuquerque. It’s great for solo-travelers, couples, friend groups, and especially families!
Whether you experience it at sunrise, during the day, at sunset, or even after dark like I did, it’s an adventure that showcases the natural beauty of New Mexico. While my plan didn’t go as expected, the glittering city lights and the unique night-time ride made for an unforgettable experience. I’d love to come back in the future and do a daytime ride too!
Have you ridden the Sandia Peak Tramway? Share your experience in the comments below!
If you’re looking for other things to do in Albuquerque, NM, check out Viator’s Top 15 Things To Do in Albuquerque list and book a tour or purchase tickets to your next destination!
I’ve written quite a few posts about my trip to Albuquerque, NM. If you’re visiting soon or would just like to know more about it, check out some of the other posts below!
- Beautiful Murals in Albuquerque, NM: My Self-Guided Tour
- Best Hikes in Albuquerque, New Mexico: Trails for Every Adventurer
- Exploring Albuquerque Breweries: My Self-Guided Brewery Tour
- 5 Must-Visit Restaurants in Albuquerque
- Best Museums in Albuquerque: Balloons, Rattlesnakes, and Bombs
- A Cozy and Thoughtful Airbnb in Albuquerque, NM: Casita Bonita
- My 4-Day Albuquerque Itinerary
- and more!
Katelynn is a Texas-based writer and travel enthusiast who makes the most of her time exploring new destinations while balancing a full-time 9-5 job. She has visited 12 countries and 27 U.S. states. She describes herself as a weekend warrior and shares her passion for travel, outdoor adventures, and solo journeys on her blog, KatelynnOutLoud.
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I just went on a cable car up into the mountains so it is wonderful to see this one. Looks like a beautiful ride. I’d love to do some of the trails on the top.
Oh! Where did you go? I really enjoy cable car rides and have been on a few. I didn’t do any hiking at the peak after this ride, but I spent some time on my visit to Albuquerque hiking other trails and really enjoyed them (I wrote a blog about some of the trails I visited!). There are great options in Albuquerque for hiking!
Shame you missed the sunset but still sounds like a great place to spend the evening
It’s definitely a fun experience with great views. I’d love to go back again and do a day-time ride!
Such a great idea for a day trip!
You could make a whole day out of it if you plan on hiking and visiting the restaurant, but you could also just take a couple hours to do the ride, see some stunning views, and then hear back down so it could fit in your schedule either way!
OMG, your experience on the tram sounds a lot like my recent experience on the Roosevelt Island Tram in NYC. I was prepared to get videos and pictures, but I ended up crammed into the middle and I didn’t want to push through to a window to get pictures. It was not at all what I expected, but by the time I made my journey back, I knew what to expect and I whipped out my camera from the middle and just lifted it to take pictures above people’s heads LOL. Just must be the way of the trams. I’d definitely love to ride this one. I’m into hiking, but for efficiency purposes, I prefer to ride up to mountain tops so I can spend more of my time enjoying the views from the top instead of spending hours trekking to the top.
I’m glad you had an opportunity to cop a great spot on the way back! I didn’t even know there was a tram on Roosevelt Island! I would agree though, a ride up and then hiking sounds like the way to go vs spending over an hour to hike up!
I love this post! We are planning an NM trip and this article, and others (Balloons in Albuquerque) were so helpful!
You just made my day, thank you! I’m glad you found my blog and all my posts about things to do in Albuquerque! There’s plenty to do to stay entertained for a few days at least!