Cibola National Forest · New Mexico, Texas

Sandia Cave

0.5 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 05072 · trail class 4 · typical grade 12-20% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, bike · seasonal: hiking 04/01-11/30

Trailhead Sandia Man Cave, Trailhead & Trail 72 Drive there

Sandia Man Cave, Trailhead & Trail 72 the Forest Service's write-up

<strong>This area does not require an amenity fee.</strong> <ul> <li>If you recreate on a regular basis in the Sandias or other national&nbsp;lands you might consider purchasing one of the America the Beautiful&nbsp;Passes or a&nbsp;Sandia Annual Pass at the locations listed below.</li> </ul> · season Open year round weather permitting to

The Sandia Man Cave is located on the north end of the Sandia Mountains high up on the steep cliff walls of Las Huertas Canyon. The trailhead is off of NM 165 and is marked with a sign. It is a 0.47 mile hike from the parking lot to the cave . The trail leads to a concrete staircase, then to a limestone ledge in the cliff, and finally to a metal staircase that spirals up to the mouth of the cave. A daylight visit is advisable, as well as appropriate clothes and shoes.

The cave was discovered in 1936 by a University of New Mexico anthropology student. From 1937-1941 UNM excavated it. Found in the cave were stone arrow and lance points, basket scraps, bits of woven yucca moccasins, and skeletal remains of Ice Age animals such as the mastodon. No human remains were discovered.

Please refer to the Sandia Mountain Trails map to plan your course.

Cell phone coverage is not guaranteed.

It is the recreationist’s responsibility to use a map.

Trail(s) are open for the following uses: Hiking.

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Cibola National Forest

All 311 trails in Cibola National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.