Sandia Peak Tramway

About

Sandia Peak Tramway carries riders 2.7 miles up the Sandia Mountains on Albuquerque's northeast side, to an upper terminal at 10,378 feet. The ride takes about 15 minutes, and the two tram cars leave every 15 to 30 minutes rather than on a fixed schedule. During the ride, the cabin operator talks about the mountain, its rock formations, plants and wildlife.

At the top, the observation deck looks out over the city and the surrounding desert and mountains. TEN 3, the restaurant at the summit, is open Thursday through Monday; the tramway suggests arriving 45 minutes to an hour before a dinner reservation. Hiking trails start near the upper terminal. Temperatures at the top are usually much cooler than in the city and can change quickly, so bring a light jacket, closed-toe shoes and water.

The lower terminal is at 30 Tramway Rd, Albuquerque, NM 87122. The tram is open Wednesday through Monday, 9 am to 8 pm, weather permitting, with shorter hours on Thanksgiving and Christmas. A $3.75 grounds fee is added to each ticket, and parking at the base costs $3.75 per vehicle, cash only. Buying tickets online is recommended. Hours can change by season, so check sandiapeak.com before you go.

Accessibility

Sandia Peak Tramway says the lower terminal, the tram cars, the walkways and the upper terminal are all accessible by wheelchair and walker, and that the deck areas at the top are wheelchair accessible too. Visit Albuquerque, the city's official tourism bureau, also lists the parking lot as accessible. Strollers are allowed on the tram and on the walkways at the top.

How a visit works: buy your tickets online before you go, because they can sell out. At the lower terminal you exchange your ticket for a boarding pass and are assigned to a tram. Two tram cars run every 15 to 30 minutes rather than on a fixed schedule, and the ride up takes about 15 minutes. Everyone gets off at the top, and you line up again to ride back down. Expect longer waits on weekends, and waits of 1 to 2 hours during Spring Break, holidays and the Balloon Fiesta. The last tram down leaves at 10 pm.

Parking at the base costs $3.75 per vehicle and is cash only, and a $3.75 grounds fee is added to each ticket. The tramway does not say where accessible parking spaces are, so call (505) 856-1532 if you need to know before you go.

The upper terminal sits at 10,378 feet, where it is usually 15 to 30 degrees cooler than in Albuquerque and the weather can change quickly. The tramway recommends a light jacket, closed-toe shoes, water and snacks. TEN 3, the restaurant at the top, is open Thursday to Monday: casual dining is first come, first served, and fine dining is by reservation.

On the ride, the cabin operator describes the mountain, its rock formations, plants and wildlife, so visitors who are blind or have low vision can enjoy the trip. For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, displays in the upper terminal share the same information in text.

At the summit, the tramway has described new restrooms reached by an elevator from the TEN 3 building, with decking to connect them to the tram deck. It has not published confirmation that this work is finished, so ask staff before you ride up if you will need an accessible restroom at the top.

The tram is closed on Tuesdays and for two weeks of maintenance each April and November (in 2026, November 3 to 11), and it can close for weather. The U.S. Forest Service has closed NM 536 beyond the 10K Trailhead parking lot, the Ellis Trailhead and the Sandia Crest Recreation Site through January 15, 2027, so for now the tram is the only way to reach the crest. The South Crest Trail can still be reached from the top of the tram.

Service animals as defined by the U.S. Department of Justice are welcome; other pets are not, but the tramway offers free kennels at the lower terminal. The tramway does not publish information about wheelchair loans or sensory-friendly times, so call (505) 856-1532 with any questions before you go.

Checked by Accessible America, October 2026. Report a change

More accessible places in New Mexico

• National Museum of Nuclear Science & History (Albuquerque)
• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (Albuquerque)
• ABQ BioPark (Albuquerque)
• Petroglyph National Monument (Albuquerque)
• Isleta Casino & Resort (Albuquerque)
• Cliff’s Amusement Park (Albuquerque)

Photo credits

• A Sandia Peak tram car crosses a steep rocky ridge above Albuquerque at sunset.: AnnaCummingsPhotography, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• Accessible parking signs in the foreground below the Sandia Mountains, with a tram car on its cables in the distance.: Nightscream, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)
• A Sandia Peak tram car descends over pine forest and rocky cliffs.: W. Guy Finley, CC BY-SA 2.0 (source)