This beautiful hike links 3 connecting trails to form a pleasant loop, passing through some beautiful forested terrain! Starting in the beautiful (and consequently popular) Doc Long Picnic Area, this trail follows Bill Spring Trail, Faulty Trail, and Sulphur Canyon. You could do Sulphur Canyon or Bill Spring on their own for a quick and easy outing, perfect for if you've got a friend or kid who is new to hiking, or just isn't used to anything more difficult.
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| A sample of all the GREEN to be found on Bill Spring |
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To get to Doc Long Picnic Area, take I-40 and exit at Tijeras and head north on NM14. Follow NM14 until you reach the turnoff for Sandia Crest Highway, the road that starts winding up the back of the Sandias until it reaches the crest. Once you pass the National Forest sign, Sulphur Canyon/Cienega Canyon Picnic Areas is on the left side and the first turnoff you reach, and Doc Long Picnic Area is immediately past this on the left as well. Bill Spring is a 0.7 (one way) mile trail that passes through lots of green trees and some really neat limestone rock formations.
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| Short limestone overhang about halfway down the trail |
Not too often noticed, there is a small spring that flows off to your right when you reach a small fenced off building, which is a pleasant place to sit and enjoy the sound of the water when it is flowing heavy enough. The hike continues on relatively level ground, passing many different tilted limestone formations, lifted up when the Sandias were being pushed up (technically the Sandias are still being pushed up).
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| Another sample of the beautiful color seen on Bill Spring in springtime |
After meandering through the bright green (lots of welcomed shade on a warm day), you reach a very small "meadow" where the trail terminates and intersects with faulty trail. You can take a break on a small log bench and turn back, or start the hike up faulty.
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| Faulty Trail wandering through the trees |
Faulty Trail is where elevation comes in and you may have to take your time. Faulty cuts up and down and drops in and out of a lot of canyons, even along it's 1.2 mile length from Bill Spring to Sulphur Canyon. However, it offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains, and is one of the trails that I have seen the most wildlife on, ranging from mule deer, to horned lizards, snakes, black bear, and some odd caterpillars I've never seen before.
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| Almost stepped on this little guy! |
Faulty maintains a steady average elevation, but has many ups and downs along the way, which is why relief is felt when you come across the Sulphur Canyon signpost. Sulphur Canyon has been closed in the past due to heavy bear activity, so always be aware of your surroundings when hiking it's 0.4 mile length. Aside from that, it is a pleasant stroll through more green and more wildflowers, making its way back down towards the crest highway.
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| Locust shells at the Sulphur Canyon/Faulty intersection |
When you reach hike back through the Sulphur Canyon Picnic area and reach the crest highway, there is a small trail that ventures off to the north/northwest toward Doc Long Picnic Area, passing a small stream/spring immediately. This will take you to an asphalt path, heading directly to the Doc Long area. Any of these trails alone are fantastic for a quick outing, and looped together it makes for a beautiful ~3.5 mile hike and a great day outside, with the potential to see so much life of the Sandias. If not the loop in its entirety, I would definitely recommend the Bill Spring Trail at least to anyone looking for a nice little hike to make you forget you are near Albuquerque. So get out, and find out for yourself! Happy Trails!
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| REALLY cool Tent Caterpillar nest. I had never seen these before encountering them along Faulty! |
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