THE ALBUQUERQUE EAST MOUNTAINS

WHAT ARE THE EAST MOUNTAINS? Visitors to the Albuquerque Area cannot help but notice the majestic Sandia Mountain Range, just East of Albuquerque. On the "back side" of those towering mountains, lie several quaint, picturesque villages and communities that natives collectively refer to as the "East Mountains." As you drive east out of Albuquerque, you will notice the canyon walls rise, and the landscape change to stony hills and dusty desert charm. This is Tijeras Canyon, home of Carnuel, and also home to a rocky tangle of weathered boulders.   Among the cluster mountain villages are Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, and Edgewood. As Carnuel fades in the background, you will enter the Village of Tijeras. Tijeras has become the active crossroads for almost everyone east of Albuquerque. Tijeras is the Spanish word for "scissors." It is basically the meeting place of the Sandia and Manzano Mountain ranges. Continue North and you are welcomed to Cedar Crest, straddling both sides of Highway North 14, includes a post office, strip malls, a tire shop, restaurants, banks, churches, Triangle Grocery store, a video store, a hardware store, and even an acupuncture clinic. Continue northward to Sandia Park, which has now spread in almost every direction, over foothills, and plains and other communities, but its heart remains in the Sandia Mountains.

At the intersection of Highway North 14 and Frost Road, you can take a leisurely drive through the lowlands and arrive in the picturesque setting called Edgewood. Edgewood is up and coming, with remnants of old ranches, now subdivided into thriving communities.

The eastern side of the mountains is "the green side of the mountain", alpine, heavily timbered with tall ponderosa pine, fir, and aspen and is part of the Cibola National Forest. This is truly big country. This is high desert country. The "GREEN SIDE" of the mountains provides a semi-rural lifestyle amid the open spaces of forest and rolling meadows. Situated at a higher elevation, this area receives more rain and snowfall than the Rio Grande Valley of the city. This lovely setting offers exceptional private living in residential communities sensitive to the natural environment.   Nature is your neighbor, offering peace and quiet, breathtaking views, fabulous year-round weather, and twinkling starry nights.   There are splendid home sites, wide-open vistas, and steep rocky canyons. This unique mountain corridor also sports some of the best weather in the entire world. The summers are moderate, and the winters are mild and sunny, displaying clear skies and endless days of bright sunshine. The humidity is consistently low and the rainy season means delicate afternoon showers. The residents are so proud of their skiing facilities, world-class golfing in the Paa-ko area, national forests, as well as art galleries and fine dining along the Turquoise Trail (Highway North 14). The "East Mountains" offer Alpine and Cross Country Skiing, hiking, and riding trails, picnic and camping areas among its numerous recreational facilities.  

Far off to the northwest broods the long blue ridge of the Jemez Mountains. Notice the sombrero-shaped dome of Cabezon Peak.   Up head on Highway North 14 is the town of Madrid known for mining. Going further north, beneath a cluster of giant cottonwoods is Cerrillos, close by the wide and usually dry Galisteo River. The breathtaking alpine views made this setting a storybook getaway, ideal for pleasurable, healthful living. Many seem to think of the East Mountains as remote, but in truth, the area is only 20 minutes to Albuquerque and a 40 minute relaxing drive to Santa Fe, along the Turquoise Trail.   Residents here are able to relax, slow down, take their shoes off, breathe fresh, crisp mountain top air as they are often seen enjoying a cup of coffee in front of their own hand crafted Kiva fireplace outside in the quaint courtyards of their low, protective walls and gates. They are just catching up.